Over 100 Evacuated After Employee Strikes Metering Valve

The person who struck a metering valve with her vehicle on Industrial Way this morning was a female employee arriving to work, according to Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson.

According to Emmanuelson, the woman was driving a smaller, crossover-type SUV when she slid on the snow in the parking lot area trying to pull into a space. At that time she ran into one of the valves.

The complex, located at 8 Industrial Way, is made up of five industrial buildings. Four of the five buildings are serviced by a large, 10,000-gallon propane tank.

The woman was not injured in the accident and there was no damage to the actual tank or building in the incident.

Between 100 and 150 workers were temporarily evacuated from buildings B and C until Salem firefighters isolated the fact that there was no active leak.

Emmanuelson said there was odor in some of the buildings, but firefighters didn't have any gas reading in the buildings.

In assessing the buildings, firefighters looked closer the ground.

"Propane is heavier than air so it will tend to hug the ground, especially on a day like today where the air is saturated with moisture," said Emmanuelson.

The call was under control less than 30 minutes after it came in at 8:54 a.m.

Three fire engines, an ambulance, paramedic, shift commander and Emmanuelson responded to the call.

Eastern Propane arrived on scene to assist the SFD in pulling the vehicle off of the metering valve.

The company will continue to work today to repair the damage and restore heat to the buildings.