MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An evacuation and shelter in place order for the area near the 4400 block of Sycamore Avenue has been lifted after emergency crews responded to a propane leak Thursday afternoon.
The Madison Fire Department said around 3:30 p.m. that the active propane leak involved a 1,000-gallon tank with a broken valve. The MFD’s Hazardous Incident Team is waiting for a private citizen to repair the damaged valve, the fire department said in an update around 4:30 p.m.
Cynthia Schuster, MFD spokeswoman, said neighbors and people in the area may smell propane, but they should know there is no danger to the public. Propane concentrations never reached explosive levels, Schuster noted.
MFD firefighters and Madison Police Department officers diverted traffic from the area and established a safety perimeter of approximately half a mile around the 4400 block of Sycamore Avenue. As of 4:20 p.m., traffic in the area has reopened, except for the 4400 block of Sycamore Avenue.
MFD monitors the atmosphere around the site.
The City of Madison Street Department drop-off location in Sycamore has been closed.
Earlier this week, a fire was reported at the metal recycling plant in the 4400 block of Sycamore Avenue as workers used torches during demolition of the building. It is unclear if the propane leak is in any way related to that incident.
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