Propane leak plugged on Pikes Peak

A leaky propane tank atop Pikes Peak on Wednesday forces the evacuation of the visitors’ center and the closure of the mountain’s highway.

The leak was in a pressure relief valve on a propane tank at an Army weather research station on the peak’s summit, said Derek Wheeler, a battalion chief for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

The Cascade Fire Department initially responded to the scene but requested assistance from Colorado Springs just after 6 p.m.

Wheeler said a loose valve that needed tightening caused the leak, and firefighters tightened the valve themselves. A propane company arrived later to confirm that the valve was repaired.

Authorities said the leak caused little interruption to Pikes Peak tourism because it happened near the end of the day when most tourists would be leaving.