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A propane leak at a construction site on Whitney Avenue has closed the East Rock block to through-traffic and led to the temporary evacuation of nearby residents.
The fire department’s assistant chief said that the leak is now under control and residents are allowed back in their homes as firefighters burn off the leaked propane while the Whitney Avenue block remains closed.
New Haven Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Vendetto told the Independent Wesdany that the department got a call at 9:53 a.m. about a leaking propane tank at a construction site adjacent to Worthington Hooker School on Whitney Avenue.
He said that firefighters found that the propane tank had frozen last night and, this morning as it thawed, the bottom had cracked a little and propane had leaked out.
He said the fire department has closed off Whitney Avenue between Cold Spring Street and East Rock Road, and that it temporarily evacuated residents of houses on that block Wednesday morning.
Those residents are now allowed back in their homes, he said, while local firefighters use two flaring machines to burn off the leaked propane.
He said that work might take until tomorrow morning to finish, during which time the Whitney Avenue block will remain closed.
“Things are under control now,” Vendetto said. “And no one was hurt.”