UPDATE: Shirley Gas Leak Fixed; Riverhead Vols Back Home Safely

Riverhead firefighters and members of the Volunteer Ambulance Corps - all safety units, indeed - are home safely after a major gas leak was successfully plugged in Shirley, which called for emergency units from all across Long Island and as far away as New Jersey.

Riverhead Fire Chief Nicholas Luparella said his department got a call around 6:30 on Saturday morning, after a gas leak behind a Kohl's in Shirley was originally reported around 1:15 a.m.

Firefighters took trips to Shirley in shifts, and Luparella said his units arrived back in Riverhead around 6:30 Saturday evening.

"I just hope this isn't any insight into what the year is going to be like," he said.

According to the office of County Executive Steve Levy, a leak in a 30,000-gallon propane tank was originally reported by the driver of a propane delivery truck. Following discovery of the leak, authorities, "determined that the gas leak warranted an evacuation of hundreds of homes within one-square mile of the incident," Levy said in a statement.

Levy's office said that a shelter was set up at William Floyd High School for evacuees of approximately 900 homes. After the leak was plugged and air quality was tested throughout the area, residents were allowed to return home. 

Luparella said early Saturday afternoon, a special apparatus had been called from New Jersey with a police escort to pump out the remaining propane. He estimated with the truck's help, removal of the remaining propane would take a couple of hours. Waiting for the propane to leak out, he guessed, could have taken up to four days. 

Luparella added that about 15 fire fighters were on the scene in Shirley, some directing traffic, others standing by in the Mastic fire house. The Riverhead Fire Department brought a ladder truck in case of any fires. Meanwhile at headquarters in Riverhead, Luparella said about 20 volunteers were on standby.