Propane Leak Causes Evacuation, Brief Closure Of VC

Park dispatch received a 911 call around 8 a.m.  yesterday morning reporting a broken propane line adjacent to the park visitor center. The break occurred when a backhoe being operated by a construction worker hit the line. The project supervisor immediately called 911 to report the incident, then started an evacuation of the visitor center and adjacent area. Park emergency responders arrived on scene and were able to shut down the propane line within ten minutes of the report. Emergency responders continued the evacuation of the visitor center and surrounding area and began rerouting vehicle and bus traffic around the VC and down Center Road. Both the visitor center and road were reopened within a half hour. David Van Inwagen, the park IC, commended the project supervisor for his actions immediately following the incident: “His prompt actions to call 911 and then initiate an evacuation of the area brought a quick response by emergency crews and likely prevented any further incident.” A local propane vendor has been called in to repair the line.