Thetford — Fire officials estimate about 100 gallons of propane leaked from an underground tank at Hale Funeral Homes and Cremation Care on Thursday afternoon.

The leak, which temporarily closed Route 113, was started by a worker performing demolition work at the business, said Thetford Fire Chief Chad Whitcomb.

When the employee was leaving, his vehicle struck the top of an underground propane tank, breaking off the release valve.

“When I got on scene I could see liquid propane coming out of the top of the tank about five feet (high),” Whitcomb said.

He called for a first alarm, bringing in crews from Lyme, Strafford, West Fairlee and Upper Valley Ambulance. Together, first responders were able to approach the tank and jam a wooden club into the hole.

The propane supplier was then brought in, and employees pumped out the remaining contents of the tank and burned off excess propane, Whitcomb said. The company intends to replace the tank, he said.

Crews spent about four hours on the scene, and left around 5 p.m. During that time, Route 113 was closed for a short period of time while firefighters assessed the scene. Crews then opened traffic to one lane as they worked, and fully opened the street by 5 p.m.

— Staff report