Bergen County Department of Health Services

Wyckoff: LPG Tank Product Release
8 / 2 0 / 0 8 ,
BCDHS CASE #2008-3-101

During the morning of March 21, 2008 an excavating contractor working at a residential property in Wyckoff attempted to remove a buried 1000 gallon capacity LPG (propane) tank. As a result of contractor activities the tank piping and valve assemblies were heavily damaged or destroyed. Unknown to the contractor the tank still contained an estimated 200 gallons or more of LPG. Heavy leakage of both liquid and gaseous product resulted through damaged piping/fittings.

Emergency responders from Wyckoff including fire, police, and ambulance personnel were summoned to the scene. Upon assessing the scene the Wyckoff Fire Department incident commander determined that he required the presence of haz-mat technicians. Haz-mat units originating out of the Mahwah Fire Department and Bergen County Haz-Mat responded to the scene.

Local responders removed potential sources of ignition and evacuated non-essential personnel from the scene. The tank and its remaining product had significantly cooled due to the initial product release through a process called auto-refrigeration. This cooling effect had greatly diminished the further release of product. Auto-refrigeration, coupled with the cold and windy weather conditions gave responders valuable time to devise response strategies and tactics.

Wyckoff Fire Department personnel deployed personnel with explosionmeters and set up hose lines for the dual purpose of fire protection and vapor dispersion.

Representatives from Suburban Propane, an LPG marketer and provider of related products and services, were also present at the scene.

BC Haz-Mat personnel arrived on the scene and were briefed by the incident commander. Objectives, strategy, and tactics were reviewed with the incident commander and his staff as well as subsequently with NJDEP Bureau of Emergency Response personnel who responded to the incident and with Suburban Propane employees. It was ultimately determined, after continued discussion, as well as several exploratory and/or corrective response efforts, that a product transfer to two empty tanks supplied by Suburban Propane would be attempted. This was accomplished after the damaged tank was plugged and re-piped to permit a product transfer. These steps were carried out by personnel from BC Haz-Mat and Wyckoff FD with needed assistance and technical advice from Suburban Propane.

Work tasks were carried out under the protection of fog lines as necessary. BC Haz-Mat and Wyckoff Fire Department personnel maintained scene monitoring utilizing several multi-gas meters throughout the response. On occasion LEL readings necessitated the suspension of work until corrective actions could be employed.

After preliminary steps to plug, patch and re-pipe were carried out the damaged tank was moved and repositioned to facilitate the transfer of liquid product. This transfer was successfully carried out. The damaged tank was drained almost completely of liquid product and then partially filled with water so as to ensure the removal of any remaining LPG. After a final inspection the damaged tank and the two receiving tanks were removed from the scene by Suburban Propane. The entire response required more than 12 hours.

For more information regarding this incident please contact the duty officer at 201-634-2804 M-F from 8:30-4:30. Please reference BCDHS CASE #2008-3-101.

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