ORLEANS, Mass. (Friday, Aug. 1, 2025) — A propane leak from a 500-pound underground tank forced evacuations and kept fire crews on scene for hours Friday afternoon in Orleans, officials said.

Orleans Fire-Rescue was dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to Nauset Heights Road, where a propane company had reported difficulty securing the leaking tank. Air monitoring found dangerous gas levels inside the residence, prompting nearby homes to be evacuated.

Due to the size and location of the leak, crews determined the safest option was to bleed the tank in a controlled release. The operation took about 30 minutes, during which neighbors may have briefly smelled gas, officials said.

Firefighters, assisted by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials team and a regional propane specialist, remained on scene until nearly 11 p.m. to ensure the area was safe.

No injuries were reported. Orleans police, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office communications center, mutual aid partners, and off-duty Orleans firefighters assisted in the response.