Overturned Propane Tank Carrying Over 1,000 Gallons Prompts Buncombe County Evacuations

A tractor-trailer hauling a large propane tank overturned on Craven Hill Circle in the Black Mountain area early Wednesday afternoon, prompting multiple fire agencies to set an approximately 200-yard safety perimeter and temporarily evacuate nearby homes. Crews stabilized the scene, identified and mitigated two leaks, and later declared the area safe; no one was injured.

The Black Mountain Fire Department reported the tank was carrying more than 1,000 gallons of propane. A headline republished by national outlets rounded that figure to 1,500 gallons, but the department’s statement cited "more than 1,000 gallons" as the primary figure. The Asheville Fire Department confirmed that two leaks were identified and mitigated and provided photographic documentation of the response.

Black Mountain Fire Chief John Coffey said the department’s priority was public safety. "There were no injuries, and our priority from the start was public safety," Coffey said. "Evacuating the immediate area allowed our crews to safely evaluate and manage the scene, and begin operations without additional risk to the community, had a serious issue been present such as gas leakage. Thankfully, there were no public safety concerns that occurred from this incident."

Responders worked to stabilize and remove the overturned vehicle while emergency personnel kept residents clear of the perimeter. After mitigation work was complete and officials deemed the scene secure, residents were allowed to return to their homes. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured, officials said.

The incident highlights risks associated with transporting large volumes of propane through residential corridors during winter months. As background, propane-related incidents have caused injuries and prolonged fires in other states; one prior example involved a roughly 1,000-gallon tank that exploded at a glass-bottling plant, injuring a worker and burning for about an hour. Federal workplace and safety rules require odorization of gases and labeling of propane cylinders, and storage rules generally require cylinders be kept outside buildings except in specific, regulated circumstances.

Local policy and regulatory follow-up could include confirming the tank’s exact capacity and fill level, reviewing permits and routing for heavy fuel transports, and checking whether state environmental or transportation agencies will investigate any release. Buncombe County emergency management, Black Mountain and Asheville fire authorities, and state regulators are the likely points of contact for those details.

For residents, the immediate outcome is reassurance: crews contained leaks and no injuries were reported. Officials urge anyone with lingering safety concerns or questions about evacuation notices to watch for updates from the Black Mountain Fire Department and Buncombe County emergency channels as investigators and cleanup crews complete their work.