By Emily Norman
A gas leak at a Carterton petrol station closed off SH2 as emergency crews worked to contain it.
On Tuesday night a car had accidentally bumped the LPG filling station on the forecourt at Mobil in Carterton.
It was assessed that night, but concerns were raised this morning and Fire crews were called in at about 9.30 as a precaution.
Senior Sergeant Mike Sutton said there was low risk to the public.
Carterton Fire Chief Wayne Robinson said a car had “hit the LPG where they weigh up the 9kg cylinders”.
“It has created an LPG leak so at the moment the gas has been isolated but we still have a minor leak.
The building was evacuated, and fire crews were “keeping the public away from the premises”.
While crews waited for a gas company representative to arrive, they kept water fog on the LPG, “keeping it down”.
Mr Robinson said gas levels around the leak itself were “extreme, but 10ft out from the leak it is fine”.
State Highway 2 was blocked from Belvedere Rd to Rhodes St and Fulton Hogan were overseeing road detours.
It was reopened after noon.
Mr Robinson said LPG can be a very flammable gas “but we’re keeping it under wrap”.
“You’ve got to treat everything as a worst-case scenario so that’s what we’re doing.
“The chances of anything happening are very minimal.”
