Overview
- A homeowner reported a leaking propane tank at 215 Washington Street and crews found a 20-pound tank that smelled of gas and appeared bulging on one side.
- Reading Police and Fire worked with the Massachusetts State Hazmat Team and the Bomb Squad to set a roughly 300-foot evacuation perimeter and close nearby streets.
- First responders secured the tank and transported it to the Reading Department of Public Works facility where Hazmat and Bomb Squad personnel began disposal procedures.
- Authorities lifted the evacuation order after the device was removed, reopened Washington Street and Green Street, and allowed residents to return home.
- Officials said small commercial-style 20-pound tanks can fail violently, which is why teams use large safety radii and controlled disposal to prevent blast injuries and property damage.