Leaking propane truck leads to evacuations in Pine Cove
A leak from a propane delivery truck in Pine Cove on Saturday, November 2, resulted in evacuation and shelter in place orders for residents on two streets. An evacuation center was set up in the office of Pine Cove Water District.
CalFire Public Information Officer Maggie Cline De La Rosa provided these details: The leak was reported around 9:30 a.m. on the 53100 block of Mountain View Drive. The first engine on scene reported a 3,000-gallon commercial propane truck with a large leak. According to the operator of the truck, there were 300 gallons in the tank at the time of the leak. An evacuation order was issued for 16 houses on Mountain View Drive, and a shelter in place order for residents on Walters Drive. The leak was caused by a cracked pipe. Fire fighters were able to stop the leak, but did not determine the cause of the crack.
PCWD board president Robert Hewitt, who is a retired LA County Fire Battalion Chief and volunteer with Mountain Disaster Preparedness, explained the district’s involvement in the response to the incident. “Early on in the incident, PCWD’s facility was identified as an evacuation center. We had 11 total evacuees for more than six hours. We took care of them and made them some coffee. I and the CalFire PIO gave regular updates as to how the mitigation was going until residents were allowed to return to their homes.”
Cline De La Rosa offered advice for those who smell leaking gas. “If anyone suspects a propane or gas leak, do not attempt to fix it yourself as the fumes can be flammable. Always call 911 for assistance. Evacuate any structure where there is a suspected leak and wait for further instructions from the Fire Department. For outside leaks, weather plays a part in the dissipation of the gas, which means the gas or additive can linger in the area for a while, even after the cleanup has been completed.” Idyllwild Fire Protection District has in the past stated that locals should first call 911 then also call IFPD (659-2153), as 911 calls go through a routing process and sometimes IFPD can get there first.
