A hazardous materials incident in East Hollywood on Thursday afternoon prompted evacuation and shelter-in-place orders at a nearby career college. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a vapor leak from a stationary propane tank adjacent to a state office building at 437 N Vermont Av. According to LAFD alerts, the leak originated from a roughly 500-gallon tank, although there were no reports of fire.
LAFD personnel, including hazardous materials specialists, worked on stopping the leak. In a precautionary measure, around 25 occupants from the state office building were evacuated without any incidents of injury or illness. Meanwhile, American Career College advised its occupants to shelter in place until the situation was resolved. Brian Humphrey of LAFD remarked, "There is no fire," reassuring that the situation was being handled with care, as per the LAFD.
Additionally, the leak led to a significant traffic disruption. Vermont Avenue was completely closed to traffic between Rosewood Avenue and Oakwood Avenue for the duration of the operation, causing congestion in the area. Authorities were unable to provide an estimated time of reopening, advising travelers to expect delays and consider alternate routes. Detours were made available to assist in redirecting the flow of vehicles.
