Blue Flame Propane facility fire in Middletown, New York

A fire at the Blue Flame Propane facility on Bloomingburg Road in Middletown, New York, prompted emergency evacuations and road closures on Tuesday morning. The blaze, which began around 10:30 a.m. inside a commercial garage bay and storage facility, came within 30 feet of several large propane tanks, including two 1,000-gallon containers.

Emergency responders from Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan counties managed the scene. Between six and ten people were evacuated from a safety radius of up to 1,000 feet, and Route 17 was closed in both directions between Exits 116 and 118 for approximately two hours. No injuries were reported, and officials confirmed the fire did not originate within the propane tanks themselves.

Local fire marshals and emergency officials are currently investigating the exact cause of the fire.