ORANGEBURG – A leak in a large propane tank used to fill smaller ones resulted in the evacuation of the entire area around Route 303 in Orangeburg for hours on Wednesday. The leak at Beckerle Lumber Company was discovered around 1:50 p.m. and it wasn’t until about 1:30 Thursday morning that the storage tank was safely emptied.
When the leak was discovered, Route 303 was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail was closed and local businesses in the area were evacuated as a precaution.
Fire and hazmat units were called in to assist the Orangeburg Fire Department. Fire departments from Rockland County and adjacent New Jersey along with the Orange County Hazardous Materials Unit, New York State Fire, Orange and Rockland Utilities and Paraco Gas Company. Area ambulance corps were also brought in.
One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion/dehydration. No other injuries were reported.
