The call came out shortly before 1 p.m. after employees at the building supply business noticed a cloud coming from the bottom of a tank, RRFD Battalion Chief Richard Cook said.

That indicated a liquid propane leak and forced the evacuation of Builders FirstSource as well as Bones Toyota, the Pepsi bottling plant, Roanoke Cinemas and Bojangles’.

Cook said firefighters, along with Public Works, police, Halifax County EMS and emergency management were waiting on the arrival of Ferrellgas to contain or repair the leak,

Four city firefighters are on standby for other emergencies. Traffic on Tenth Street was blocked off at Becker Drive and Julian R. Allsbrook Highway.

Liquid propane expands 220 times when it becomes a gas, Cook said. “Propane is different than natural gas because it’s heavier than air.”

Buddy Wrenn, emergency management coordinator for Halifax County, said, “We have historical reference that it can cause real damage.”

He was referring to a 2016 explosion in Halifax which destroyed a house on King Street.

Curt Strickland, general manager of Builders FirstSource, said, “We’re glad no one was hurt. Emergency responders were right on top of it.”