An explosion at Admiral Propane on Forest Street near the West Main intersection heavily damaged a building and set some propane tanks on fire.
The explosion was reported just before 4:30 PM and flames were visible at tanks around the building. Greeneville Fire Department responded and was able to get water on the flames quickly to keep the fire from spreading.
Josh Davis, who was driving on West Main, said he noticed gas leaking from a tank beside a building which looked like a low lying fog. Davis said that gas cloud was low to the ground and had reached all the way down to the Forest Street/West Main intersection. Davis turned around in the Co-op parking lot go go back and warm those inside, but as he got out of his truck, he said the tanks exploded. Davis said that two female employees came running out of the administrative building next door and were able to get away from the burning building. Davis said it appeared that the entire roof of the building lifted off when the explosion happened. He said that flames were visible after the explosion as well as a loud hiss that seemed to be coming from other propane tanks.
Greeneville Police Chief Tim Ward said that thankfully there were no injuries, and that fire and police will remain on the scene for some time this evening. A bystander at the scene said he was speaking with one of two people who were inside the building, and that neither of them were injured.
Traffic was blocked on West Main and Forest Street until about 6:30 PM. Greeneville Police and Fire Department remained on the scene. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Bomb and Arson Investigators have been called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.
In addition to Greeneville Fire, the Greeneville Police Department, EMS, Rescue Squad, and other emergency agencies responded.
