06/12/2026
WORKING HAZ MAT LEAK ON NORTHGATE COMMERCE PARKWAY
SUFFOLK, Virginia (June 12, 2026): On Friday, June 12, 2026, Suffolk Fire & Rescue responded to the 2000 Block of Northgate Commerce Parkway for a commercial gas leak. Suffolk Emergency Communications Center dispatched the incident at 3:42 p.m.
Ladder 5 and Engine 10 arrived on the scene at 3:50 p.m. After investigating, crews found a 1,000-gallon propane tank leaking at the rear of a large distribution warehouse. Rescue 2 entered and confirmed all employees had evacuated the warehouse and multiple crews performed detection and monitoring. Firefighters used a hose line to cool the leaking propane tank and contain the leak. Cooling of the leaking tank continued as the relief valve on the propane tank stopped leaking v***r after continuous cooling by hose streams. Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Haz Mat Officer served as a liaison to the Incident Commander. Once the tank was cooled, and the relief valve reseated, firefighters ventilated the warehouse and used meters to monitor the atmosphere for flammable limits. Once the warehouse was ventilated and detection and monitoring completed, all units began to demobilize. The incident was declared under control at 5:30 p.m. Due to the heat of the afternoon, and long work cycles of firefighters, Suffolk Fire’s Rehab 6 and Chesapeake Fire’s Rehab 3 worked to rehab firefighters. Traffic on Northgate Commerce Parkway was blocked for over an hour causing significant traffic backups on Shoulders Hill Rd. and Nansemond Parkway. Northgate Commerce Parkway was reopened at 6:00 p.m. to all traffic.
Responding units included Car 10, Battalion 2, Engine 10, Engine 5, Engine 11, Ladder 5, Rescue 2, Medic 10, Medic 11, EMS 2, Safety 1, VDEM HM Officer, and Suffolk Police.
