CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – An overturned propane truck began leaking the gas, forcing the evacuation of about 50 homes in western Albemarle County on Monday morning.

Albemarle County Fire Rescue responded to the report of an overturned propane truck in the 7500 block of Plank Road in Afton at 9:23 a.m. and found a potentially dangerous active propane leak from the vehicle, which was transporting 2200 gallons of the gas.

“We established a ½ mile radius for evacuating the area, just to be safe,” ACFR Captain Cody Gillispie said during an afternoon press briefing. “I can only imagine they were pretty nervous when the fire department was knocking on their door to let them know.”

No one was injured and there is not expected to be any environmental impact, Gillispie said.

Gillispie said crews in special, fire-retardant suits wearing self-contained breathing apparatuses were able to work the scene and are continuing to monitor the air quality in the area.

He said crews went door-to-door to houses, even entering some residences to check the air quality in basements and other lower areas.

“It’s still an active propane leak,” Gillispie said. “We’re at the mercy of the amount that’s in the vehicle. Once it stops leaking, then we’ll be able to do more things.”

Gillispie said that could still take “multiple hours,” and that ACFR crews were anticipating working into the night.

The gas leak brought with it concern of a large fire, called a bleve, if a spark had ignited the propane. Gillispie said that was no longer a concern because the area had been evacuated and crews had it area under their control.