By Mark Edward Nero
A hose ruptured on a tanker truck at the Port of Tacoma the morning of Feb. 17, leaking more than 1,500 gallons of propane and forcing the immediate area to be evacuated.
The truck was transferring 2,500 gallons of liquid propane to another tank when the hose ruptured and began dumping propane into the atmosphere, resulting in a large chemical cloud. The Tacoma Fire Dept. was called to the scene around 11:30 am, according to Battalion Chief Jim Zuluaga.
About 25 firefighters responded to the leak, which was in the 4000 block of Marine View Drive in Tacoma, near the Chinook Landing Marina. Workers were then moved away, and for about two hours, an area was blocked off between State Route 509 and Pacific Highway East.
Crews monitored propane levels in the atmosphere until they dropped to safe levels, then closed the valves on the tanker and secured the scene, according to the Tacoma Fire Department.
No injuries were reported, the fire department says, and port operations are not believed to have been impacted by the incident.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
