The flame burning behind the Herrick Park bathrooms in East Hampton Village is not a new pyrotechnics display or art installation. Instead, it's a controlled burn of 400 gallons of propane. Dave Collins, the superintendent of the Public Works Department, said it will take two days to burn off completely.
The department was prepared to remove the propane tank Thursday, to make way for a new septic tank that will be added behind the bathrooms on Monday. But first, it needed to pump out the remaining propane. However, a faulty valve made that impossible, hence the burn.
"The work is being supervised by Blue Light Propane out of Bridgehampton. I have D.P.W. staff on hand to monitor the situation should anything go awry. We know how to shut it down," said Mr. Collins.
The heat from the roaring flame could be felt from at least 30 feet away when the wind blew in the right direction. It was visible from the entire Reutershan parking lot and Herrick Park.
The septic tank is being added because the I/A system that the village installed two years ago was not handling the flow from the bathroom property.
"We're going to burn it until 3:30 p.m. or 4 o'clock today and then again tomorrow," said Mr. Collins. "It's the safest way to get rid of it. Usually, we'd pump it out to save it for re-use, but that wasn't an option."
With normal home use, 400 gallons of propane would last about five months. It currently costs about four dollars per gallon.
