PORT LUDLOW — A portion of Teal Lake Road was closed Wednesday after a propane truck overturned in Port Ludlow, cracking a pipe that spilled the gas.
The driver escaped with no injuries after the noon wreck, according to Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman, who added that, due to the remote location of the wreck, no homeowners were evacuated from the area.
First responders worked with propane experts and the state Department of Ecology, and it was decided it was safest to monitor the situation until the 2,500 gallons of propane had vented from the truck.
HAZMAT firefighters attempted to stop the leak but were unable to cap it, Beezley said.
Firefighters set up a 300-yard perimeter on the north side of Teal Lake Road and a half-mile perimeter on the south side. This closed Teal Lake Road from Andy Cooper Road to state Highway 104.
The road remained closed as of 5 p.m. Wednesday and could be closed overnight.
An empty propane truck was brought in just before 5 p.m. and planned to pump the remaining propane from the wrecked truck into the empty truck, Beezley said.
Beezley said if that is unsuccessful, the road likely will be closed overnight to allow the 2,500 gallons of propane the truck was carrying to dissipate.
“Propane expands when it’s compressed like that,” Beezley said.
“The cloud we can see represents just a fraction, and with a size like 2,500 gallons, this could easily take all night.”
Crews from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue, Quilcene Fire Rescue, the Poulsbo Fire Department and Naval Magazine Indian Island arrived at the wreck.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or atcmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
