Firefigthers evacuated more than a dozen of homes and closed off several roads in Bethesda's Edgemoor neighborhood Monday afternoon after an approximately 1,000 gallon propane tank buried behind a home under construction on Fairfax Road began leaking.
The leak began was reported around noon Monday, and since then police have closed Fairfax Road and Glenbrook Road near the site in the 7100 block of Fairfax. Firefighters evacuated several residences along Fairfax Road as well.
Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said HazMat crews stopped the leak around 1 p.m., and then burned off an estimated 400 gallons of propane, a procedure that took until aorund 7 p.m. Monday evening.
A representative of Sandy Spring Builders, which is building the home where the tank is located, said he didn't know if workers caused the leak or if something else happened at the site Monday afternoon. He said he wasn't at the residence when workers noticed the leak.
The Sandy Springs represenative said the propane tank was to be used to power the residence's whole-home generator as well as the pool's heater. He said the local gas lines don't have enough pressure to supply the generator.
Image above: Firefighters being "burn-off" process. Credit: Pete Piringer, @mcfrspio on Twitter
Firefighteres evacuate residents from homes on Fairfax Road on Monday. Credit: Andrew Metcalf
Fire and rescue workers stand nearby the site of a leaking propane tank on Fairfax Road. Credit: Andrew Metcalf
Buried underground tank to supply the house is leaking, it's behind this home that's under construction pic.twitter.com/j1l48BWA21
— Bethesda Beat (@BethesdaBeat) September 15, 2014
U/D 7100blk Fairfax ROAD, Bethesda, #mcfrs HazMat 'burn-off' of >400 gallons of propane may take hours. pic.twitter.com/gR2Ev8EYH0
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) September 15, 2014