The Portland Fire Department responded to 141 Preble St. after a plow truck operator called 911 indicating he hit a propane tank with his plow.

The tank was knocked off its pedestal and broke off a purge valve, allowing liquid propane to leak from the tank.

The fire department’s hazardous material technicians responded and immediately installed a plug, significantly slowing the leak, department officials said.

“Initially 141 Preble St. was evacuated, but once our hazardous materials technician plugged the leak, and confirmed the gas had dissipated, we allowed the occupants to return inside and get out of the cold,” said Portland Deputy Chief Scott Thomes.

Suburban Propane used a heavy lifting boom truck to position the tank so only a small amount of propane gas vented out and safely dissipated in fresh air, Thomes said. Fire crews and hazardous material specialists remained on scene monitoring gas levels in the area while the propane company prepared the tank for transport.

The tank was then moved to Suburban Propane’s facility on Thompsons Point in Portland to continue the process of pumping the liquid propane off and recovering as much of the fuel as possible.

No injuries were reported.