Cannon County EMA makes 'first' call to TEMA

Cannon County EMA is already off to an early 2018 start for emergency calls. Auburntown Fire Department and Cannon County EMA were dispatched to a report of an active, liquid propane leak in the Auburntown area. Auburntown Fire Department arrived on scene and determined there was an active liquid propane leak from a 500 gallon propane tank that could not be stopped, with approximately 20% of fuel still remaining. The resident had attempted to contacted their propane vendor, with no answer. The Cannon County 911 Center also attempted to contact the propane vendor, with no success.

The decision was made at that point from Cannon County Emergency Management on scene to contact the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency at the TEMA Watch Point in Nashville and advised them of the situation and to request assistance on getting a propane technician on site. They were able to make contact with the propane vendor and a technician was then sent immediately to the scene. They attached a specially designed, "safety valve" on top of the main valve system were the liquid leak was seeping from and were successful in stopping the liquid from continuing to leak out.

The time TEMA Watch Point was notified was 2 minutes after midnight, putting Cannon County as the very first emergency call in to TEMA Watch Point for 2018 in the entire State.