What started as a faulty valve on a 1,000-gallon propane tank turned into a hours-long hazmat operation in Jacksonville on Thursday, as Jacksonville Fire Rescue’s HazMat team moved in to stop a dangerous gas leak and burn off the fuel before it could ignite on its own.
According to a post from the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department, a malfunctioning service valve allowed propane vapor to escape from the large tank. HazMat technicians re-plumbed the tank and set up a controlled burnoff, a flaring tactic that routes escaping gas to a burner where it can be safely ignited and burned away. The strategy relieves pressure in the tank and cuts the odds of an uncontrolled fire or explosion while crews keep the area secure and continuously monitor conditions.
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