A building in the center of downtown New Canaan was evacuated Friday evening following reports of a gas leak, officials say.
At about 6 p.m. on May 9, the New Canaan Fire Department responded to a reported odor of gas in a restaurant on Main Street, according to a press release issued by NCFD.
Arriving and with help from an off-duty firefighter from a neighboring town, officials “quickly determined a 100 gallon propane tank was leaking behind 15 Elm St.,” the press release said. The address is the same as SE Uncorked.
Occupants of the buildings at Main and Elm Streets left the premises while the Fire Department “deployed hose lines to disperse the accumulating propane gas vapors,” the release said.
“Firefighters also found gas had accumulated in the basement of 15 Elm St. and ventilated with a fan,” it said.
A propane technician assisted by hazardous materials technicians on scene halted the gas leaking from a valve and the propane company removed the tank, officials said.
NCFD was on scene for about two hours.
“We were able to make quick decisions because of a previous incident and the pre-planning of the business district,” Fire Chief Albe Bassett said.
For about 90 minutes, Main Street was closed between Burtis and East Avenues, fire officials said, as was Elm Street from Main to South Avenue.
“Residents and business owners should call 911 if they smell a gas leak,” fire officials said in the release. “Both propane and natural gas will have a rotten egg odor that will be detectable when there is the smallest leak. Also be sure there are operating carbon monoxide detectors in your home. CO is often found with gas leaks from operating stoves and furnaces.”