NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A massive fire sparked early Thursday morning underneath a propane tank in Metro Center.
The fire ignited around 5:15 a.m. under the 1,000 gallon tank located outside an office building located at 245 Great Circle Road, across from Athens Way.
The fire was extinguished by 8 a.m. after crews entered the building and shut off a valve.
While battling the blaze, crews were told to keep away from the fire. A water cannon on top of a fire truck was used to help keep the flames low.
The tank is located a few feet away from the office building and the fire did not spread to the structure.
However, the building and several nearby were evacuated as a precaution in fear the tank might catch fire and explode.
"[A] fire truck had come by and said you need to go across the street, it's a 1,000 pound tank and it could blow," employee Monique Stenke said.
Employees told Nashville's News 2 at least four businesses work out of the office building including Kenco, a logistics company, and Parallon, a medical services company.
The propane is reportedly used to refuel mechanical equipment such as fork lifts.
The assistant fire chief told Nashville's News 2 pipes underneath the propane tank caught fire. The exact cause is under investigation.
The fire burned underneath the tank for nearly three hours but the tank never exploded.
A technician will inspect the propane tank later on Thursday.
Employees are expected to be allowed back into building by midmorning.
No injuries were reported.
