Open valve on propane tank led to road closures near Quinault Beach Resort and Casino Friday

By Dan Hammock Grays Harbor News Group • January 20, 2020 4:30 pm
COURTESY GRAYS HARBOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The location of Friday’s gas leak near the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, with the circle representing the 3,000-foot buffer that closed sections of State Route 115 and State Route 109 for about four hours.
COURTESY GRAYS HARBOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The location of Friday’s gas leak near the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, with the circle representing the 3,000-foot buffer that closed sections of State Route 115 and State Route 109 for about four hours.

An inadvertently opened valve on a 30,000 gallon propane tank at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores prompted the 4-hour shutdown at state routes 109 and 115 near the resort Friday afternoon, according to a joint statement from Grays Harbor County Emergency Management, the Quinault Indian Nation and the Washington State Patrol.

”The leak was reported at approximately 12:10 p.m. A Ferrellgas delivery truck hauling 8,500 gallons of propane was offloading into a 30,000 storage tank on the resort property,” read the statement. “Pressurized propane began discharging from what was initially believed to be the delivery truck, leading to the evacuation of the resort. As a precaution, state Route 109 and state Route 115 were closed.”

The open tank valve led to about two gallons of propane to leak out, according to the statement.

The State Patrol set up a detour on State Route 109 at Hale Avenue and Shamrock Way at State Route 115 to divert traffic around the casino in and out of Ocean Shores. The problem was resolved and the roads and resort were reopened shortly after 4 p.m.

The resort was evacuated “for the safety of the public due to the increased risk of ignition sources in the vicinity of the leaking propane,” read the release. “Local schools and transit stations were notified of the leak, road closures and notified of alternative routes. No injuries were reported.”

Ferrellgas has been fully cooperative with the involved agencies during the investigation into the incident, according to the statement.

“This was a great team effort overall,” stated Quinault Indian Nations President Fawn Sharp. “…We express heartfelt gratitude sincerely to the first responders and regret any inconvenience to guests at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.”

The Grays Harbor County Emergency Operations Center was activated to support the incident. The Washington State Patrol, Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean Shores Police Department, Ocean Shores Fire Department, Grays Harbor Fire District 7, Washington State Parks and representatives from the Quinault Beach Casino and Ferrellgas responded to the incident.