Several residents are back in their homes and crews remained on scene in Kane Borough on Tuesday, a day after gasoline was discovered in the borough’s sanitary system and in structures.

Crews are monitoring the sanitary system and checking on the homes, McKean County Emergency Services Director Andrew Johnson said on Tuesday afternoon. Between 9 and 10 a.m. Tuesday, people were allowed to return to their homes, Johnson said.

On Monday, members of the Kane Volunteer Fire Department were called out to a gas tank leak  around 4:30 a.m., east of North Fraley Street on the property of Kwik Fill.  

Reports indicated that an estimated 2,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from the tank, but Johnson said he was not sure how much seeped into the system. Johnson said he doesn’t believe the cause of the incident has been determined.

The Kane fire department handed over the scene to United Refining of Warren on Tuesday morning, Johnson said.

United Refining has taken responsibility of the incident and has even paid for hotel and meal costs for temporarily displaced individuals, said Johnson. About 16 people were temporarily displaced due to the incident, and they stayed in relatives’ homes or at hotels.

Responding to the incident were the state Department of Environmental Protection, United Refining, American Refining Group from Bradford, the borough fire department, borough police and McKean County Emergency Management Agency.

“I know the immediate danger has passed,” but the potential exists of the gasoline surfacing from the ground, Johnson said. He advised if people smell gas in their residence, to leave the home and call 911.

No one from United Refining returned an email to The Era seeking more information by press time Tuesday night.