Update: Construction Area Evacuation, Closure
October 3, 2018 by Admin
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 - 6:20PM
CONCORD, MA —The Town of Concord has announced the closure of traffic and evacuation in the area surrounding The Umbrella Community Arts Center construction site at 40 Stow Street while public safety officials investigated possible issues with a large propane gas tank on the site.
At approximately 1:30 PM this afternoon, The Umbrella staff was notified by contractor CE Floyd that a construction worker, while operating a piece of equipment, hit a valve and knocked the top off the propane tank.
The Town Fire Chief was on site to evacuate the building/site of construction workers, and representatives from the propane company, Bursaw, were called to the site.
The contractor reported that there were no injuries and everyone had been accounted for after the evacuation. The Umbrella Community Arts Center staff have also been reported safe.
As of approximately 2:30PM, the Town announced that the Concord Fire Department remained on site to ensure there is no leak and "in an abundance of caution" the surrounding streets had been closed including parts of Main Street at Thoreau Street, Walden Street, Stow Street and Main Street, and Everett Street, Devens, Hubbard and Sudbury. Residents and businesses in the impacted area were also being asked to evacuate, and news crews were asked to stage at the Hunt Gym and avoid callingn Public Safety Hotlines for updates.
The Town has asked residents to follow social media (@townofconcordma ov Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/TownofConcordMA/ ) for immediate updates of the ongoing event. The Town Police Department announced it would also post updates to its news blog throughout the afternoon: https://concordmapdnews.com/2018/10/03/community-information-stow-st/
UPDATES: As of approx. 5:30 PM, the Town announced that a leak in the propane tank had been plugged and the broken valve replaced. By 6:20, the building was vented and homes in the surrounding area were metered for safety, and residents got the okay to return home.
The staff of The Umbrella Community Arts Center extends its thanks for and admiration to the quick, steady action of the Concord Fire Department, Concord Police Department, and Bursaw in safeguarding the public's safety while assessing and addressing any possible hazards. Additional updates for the neighboring community will be made as information becomes available.
