Sacramento Fire crews are evacuating residents near a propane leak reported in the 3300 block of 52nd Avenue, with officials warning the cleared area could grow larger once hazardous materials specialists get a closer look. The leak was traced to tanks sitting in a yard nearby, each holding a relatively modest amount of propane compared to some past regional incidents.
According to the Sacramento Fire Department, the tanks in question are carrying an estimated five to 15 gallons of propane. Businesses and homes directly east of that yard are currently under evacuation orders, the department said, and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses sits nearby as well.
Fire officials cautioned that the situation remains fluid. The evacuation zone could expand depending on what Hazmat crews decide once they reach the scene, authorities said, and the outlet that first reported the leak described it as a developing story as of early Sunday morning.
A Relatively Small Leak By Comparison
Five to 15 gallons is a modest volume next to some of the propane emergencies that have rattled the Sacramento region in recent years. In a prior incident, an estimated 1,200 gallons of propane were involved after a truck carrying the fuel rolled over on Walmort Road in south Sacramento County, prompting evacuations and the opening of a shelter at the Wilton Community Center on Colony Road, the same outlet reported.
Other local propane scares have turned dangerous. Sacramento Metro Fire responded to a propane tank explosion at a Citrus Heights duplex that left one person with burn injuries serious enough to require transport to a burn center, according to a report from Fox40. Residents of both units in that duplex were displaced as a result.
Other Close Calls Around the Region
Not every local propane incident has ended with injuries. In January 2024, multiple propane tanks ignited near a Sikh temple in Sacramento County as fire spread to an outlying building, but worshippers were evacuated by sheriff's deputies and no injuries were reported, per the Sacramento Bee. At least six tanks weighing 50 to 100 pounds apiece ignited in that fire.
Separately, a different kind of gas emergency shut down part of downtown Sacramento when a contractor struck a high-pressure underground natural gas main, forcing more than 1,000 people out of nearby buildings, according to CBS News. PG&E crews in that case managed to shut off the gas flow within about 45 minutes before starting repairs.
What Comes Next
For now, the scope of the current leak near 52nd Avenue remains limited to the area directly east of the yard where the tanks were found, with no additional details yet available on injuries, the cause of the leak, or when an all-clear might be issued. Fire officials have indicated the picture could change quickly once Hazmat teams complete their assessment.
