ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 15, 1996 TAG: 9601150090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
A propane gas leak sent two Bedford County dispatchers to the hospital Sunday evening but was discovered early enough to avert evacuation of the county jail.
Sheriff Mike Brown said a deputy smelled ``a strong gas odor'' about 6 p.m. and called in help to detect the source.
Winds helped gas fumes travel into the dispatch area of the Sheriff's Office. Dispatchers later complained of nausea and were taken to Bedford Memorial Hospital for observation, Brown said.
Both on- and off-duty deputies looked for the leak with help from members of the Bedford City Police, Virginia State Police, Bedford Fire Department and Bedford Rescue, Brown said.
A liquid propane tank that was removed and replaced with a new tank a few days ago was the source of the leak, Brown said.
Although it had been disconnected, the tank had been left on the property. It took about an hour to find the leak, he said.
A gas leak can cause sickness to those exposed and raises the risk of fire or an explosion, Brown said .
The recent weather could have caused the old tank's gaskets to freeze and thaw several times, eventually breaking the seal, Brown said.
Although the county's 49 inmates were not evacuated, school buses were requested in case an evacuation became necessary, he said.
The gas company was called to pick up the tank.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB