On Wednesday 6/30/21 at approximately 10:49am, Mohegan FD (volunteer and career) were dispatched to a residence on Maple Ave in Cortlandt for a reported propane leak due to the tank being struck by construction machinery. Upon arrival of units, an active propane leak was found from the 500lb underground tank, that was reportedly half full. Firefighters quickly stretched one 2 1/2” hoseline from Engine 252 to set up a fog pattern from the blitz nozzle to begin to dissipate the high levels of propane gas being leaked in the immediate area. Engine 254 assisted with water supply from a nearby hydrant. While using gas meters to check the levels of gas in the air, high explosive gas levels were found in the neighboring structure and the electrical power was immediately shut off and the area safely evacuated. Mohegan EMS and Peekskill EMS Rehab Unit were also requested to the scene due to the extremely high temperatures and weather conditions. While operating on scene, firefighters found low water pressure from the hydrant system so tankers were requested to the scene to standby for potential water supply. Yorktown FD, Croton FD, and Continental Village FD tankers were requested and stoodby on scene. The Westchester County Dept of Emergency Services Hazmat Team was also requested to the scene plus Peekskill FD and Somers FD relocated to standby and cover at Mohegan FD Headquarters. With firefighters needed rehab, Buchanan FD’s bus was special called to the scene to assist in rehab purposes and Peekskill FD and Somers FD were then requested to the scene to assist in operations. Putnam Valley FD and Ossining FD were then requested to backfill and cover Mohegan FD. Mahopac Falls FD was also requested to relocate one tanker to Mohegan FD Headquarters to cover the northwest quadrant of Westchester County’s non hydrant area because of the various mutual aid tankers operating on the scene. Firefighters continued to rotate crews to assist in the hoseline operation and also continue air monitoring for gas readings and levels. Due to the seriousness of the incident, at the request of the Westchester County DES Hazmat Team, the New York State Fire Hazmat Team was special called to the scene to assist in operations. Additional propane leak equipment on their hazmat truck in Albany was also started out to the scene. Both hazmat teams worked together to ventilate the nearby structure by opening windows and safely lite a propane burn device to safely mitigated the leak and burn off the large amount of liquid propane in the tank safely, which also stopped the propane gas vapor from leaking. With the high heat affecting firefighting capabilities, Putnam Valley FD and Ossining FD were requested to the scene. Throughout the day, additional crews from Montrose FD and Continental Village FD would assist in the rotation, while Millwood FD relocated to cover Mohegan FD. The Westchester County Beeline Bus System was contacted to have one mass transit bus special called to the scene to assist in rehab and act as a cooling station for the fatigued firefighters. As the evening approached, Yorktown FD’s portable light tower was special called to the scene for potential night time operations. The tank safely burned off by dusk and all units cleared the scene by 9pm. The Town of Cortlandt Code Enforcement and Cortlandt Water Dept also assisted on scene. We would like to thank all our mutual aid resources who assisted on scene and by covering the additional calls for Mohegan FD.

Units on scene:

Mohegan FD:
Car 2261, 2262, 2263, 226-42, 2264, 2265, 2266, 2267, 2269, 22610, Engine 252, Engine 254, Ladder 10, Rescue 32, Utility 18, Utility 50/Fire Police, Utility 80

Mohegan EMS:
69B3, 6905

Peekskill EMS:
7512, 7506 (rehab unit)

Yorktown FD:
Car 2537, Tanker 14, Utility 143, Light Tower 51

Croton FD:
Car 2082, Tanker 10

Continental Village FD:
Car 2131, 2132, Tanker 11, Engine 231

Peekskill FD:
Engine 130

Buchanan FD:
Utility 4 (bus)

Somers FD:
Car 2441, Tower Ladder 18

Putnam Valley FD:
Car 24-1-1, Engine 24-2-2

Ossining FD:
Tower Ladder 42

Montrose FD:
Car 2273, Engine 123

Westchester County Dept of Emergency Services:
Battalion 17, Car 2001, Hazmat 1

New York State Fire:
Hazmat Team

New York State Police:
Cortlandt Barracks

Westchester County Beeline Bus System:
Bus 681

Standby Units:

Mahopac Falls FD:
Engine Tanker 19-4-2

Millwood FD:
Car 2253, Engine 247