Residents in eastern White County are returning home this evening after being evacuated earlier today due to a propane gas leak.
Officials say approximately 2800 gallons of liquid propane leaked from a broken valve on a delivery truck at 690 Holiness Campground Road. At 12:56 p.m., a caller alerted White County 911 to the situation, according to the White County Public Safety Office.
White County firefighters and EMS, along with deputies from the White County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area. They requested mutual aid from Hall County firefighters and the Hall County Hazmat team.
White County Emergency Services activated the county’s CodeRed emergency alert system to notify residents of the situation and advise them to evacuate. The alert went out to about 1400 homes in the area, says White County Public Safety Administrative Assistant Cami Downey, who adds that many of the homeowners were at work.
Firefighters went door to door to assist those who were home with the evacuation. Officials set up a shelter at the White County Parks and Recreation Department on Asbestos Road. They closed off Holiness Campground and several other roads in the area.
White County firefighters contained the leak before Hall County HazMat arrived. They canceled the HazMat team, and at 3:12 p.m., firefighters cleared the scene, allowing residents in the area to return to their homes.
