Gas leak prompts evacuation of nursing home wing

Waterford - A gas leak Sunday afternoon led to the evacuation of 27 people from their rooms at the Fountainview Care Center on Clark Lane.

Residents in one wing of the nursing home were moved to another part of the facility, said Jordan Fire Chief Tim Sullivan. Police, meanwhile, closed the road.

Sullivan said fire officials were called out for the smell of propane near Stenger Farm about 4:30 p.m. They traced the odor to a 1,000-gallon underground tank behind the nursing home that was leaking. Firefighters could not secure the leak immediately, so they used water to break down the gas vapors, Sullivan said. A safety valve on the tank appeared to have failed, he said.

Sullivan said the residents were moved as a precaution and were moved back into their rooms about an hour later. No injuries were reported. Oswegatchie, Goshen and Cohanzie fire departments responded, in addition to Waterford ambulance.