Damaged Carbon Dioxide Tank Causes Emergency Response In Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — A damaged carbon dioxide tank at a local gas company prompted response from numerous emergency personnel and temporarily shut off a major travelway Thursday morning.

The Capital Regional HazMat Team was dispatched around 5:20 a.m. to the Esquire Gas Co. at 156 Spring Street in response to a report that a 90,000 pound carbon dioxide tank had a valve ripped off, said Mark Zarcaro, public information officer for the fire departments of Enfield.

A "vapor cloud" was seen, prompting a brief shutdown of the adjacent Amtrak railway and the Route 190 bridge connecting Enfield and Suffield. A dozen homes in the area were evacuated, and a bus was provided to provide warmth to those residents, Zarcaro said.

No injuries were reported.

Photo credit: Cliff Champlin

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