A possible propane truck leak shut down the westbound 22 Freeway this afternoon

If you were stuck on the westbound 22 Freeway this afternoon we now know what happened.

Firefighters, including the OCFA Hazardous Materials Response Team responded to westbound SR-22 at Harbor Blvd. for a possible leak from a propane tank shortly before 2:00 p.m., according to the OCFA.

For everyone’s safety, the freeway was shut down while the HMRT made entry to determine if there was a threat to the public.

After their assessment, it was determined there wasn’t a leak.

The OCFA appreciates everyone’s patience as they worked to mitigate the problem.

The propane truck belonged to United Propane. They have yards in Fullerton and in Anaheim.

There are two easy ways to determine if there is a propane leak. The propane is odorized and has a smell like rotten eggs. Workers who handle propane containers also know that they can spray soapy water on hoses and containers and a propane leak will then create bubbles.

The danger with leaking propane from a truck is that the volume of escaped gas could be high and it will always look for an ignition source. If the container is compromised and catches fire it could result in a BLEVE – a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion.

Here is a video example of a BLEVE:

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Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.