Firefighters evacuate 2 residents after propane leak at Burton home

BURTON, S.C. (WTOC) - Firefighters evacuated two residents after a propane leak outside their home.

Burton firefighters were called to the home on Poppy Hills Circle in Grays Hill shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, according to a press release from the Burton Fire District.

The homeowner told crews their propane tank was filled a day earlier, and there had been a propane smell in the home since.

Firefighters discovered propane leaking from the relief valve of the tank outside the home. A flare kit was deployed to burn off propane in the tank to bring it to safe levels and allow the relief valve to reset.

Firefighters were then able to ensure the house was clear by using a gas detector, before power and gas were restored to the home.

Burton Fire officials said no injuries were reported, and the incident could have gone much worse.

“Once the propane and oxygen reached the right mixture, all that was needed was a spark, and this would have had a different ending,” Burton Fire District Engineer Joel Cody said. “They were very lucky.”

Fire crews urge residents to call 911 immediately if they smell gas or propane, and to evacuate and eliminate ignition sources if inside a building.