Brookhaven fire marshal to probe leak

The Brookhaven fire marshal's office is leading the probe into the New Year's Day propane leak in Shirley that spewed fuel and forced the early morning evacuation of more than 2,000 people.

Investigators said the leak was discovered at about 1:13 a.m. Saturday when a driver making a propane delivery noticed gas emanating from the tank. He shut down his truck and alerted authorities of the leak, which was behind a Kohl's department store on Montauk Highway.

Suffolk officials said the county police department was assisting in the investigation, but said there was no indication of any criminal misconduct.

Brookhaven fire marshals will begin a survey Monday of all commercial propane tanks greater than 4,000 gallons, said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko. Bob Melick, regional vice president for Titan Propane LLC, which does business on Long Island as Synergy Gas, said his company owned and maintained the leaking tank, which held 30,000 gallons. He said the company was investigating what happened.

"There was an issue," Melick said. "We're not sure what happened yet."

A cracked plastic valve on a propane tank caused the leak, Suffolk Executive Steve Levy said Saturday. No one was seriously hurt but two people were given oxygen at the scene.

The Long Island Rail Road stopped service along nearby tracks, electrical power was cut to many homes and police rode bicycles in the area to avoid sparks from their vehicles that could ignite the gas from the leak.

At the request of authorities Sunday, Titan brought three 1,000-gallon propane tanks to heat the Kohl's Shopping Center, Melick said. The center was open all day.

Vicki Shamion, Kohl's senior vice president, in a statement Sunday assured customers the store was safe.

"The propane leak occurred near our store but was not Kohl's property," the statement said. "The store is currently open and safe for customers. A police investigation is under way into this matter. We are cooperating with the authorities leading the investigation and are referring all media inquiries to police."

Propane gas is used "a fair amount" on Long Island in both businesses and homes, said Michael Meath, spokesman for the New York Propane Gas Association, a trade group based in upstate Clifton Park.

"Propane is used predominantly where homeowners or business wish to use natural gas because you're beyond the mains," he said. Meath added that propane is safe if the fuel is handled properly. "Propane accidents are extremely rare," he said.

With Michael Amon, Erin Geismar

and Nicholas Spangler