Firefighters in Yarmouth continue to burn off gas inside an underground propane tank discovered to be leaking yesterday.

Officials said the 500-gallon tank is across the street from an assisted-living facility at 27 Forest Falls Drive. The leak was discovered yesterday when residents of the facility smelled gas.

Fire Chief Byron Fairbanks said there was no danger to the residents, so they were not evacuated. Officials decided the safest solution to the problem would be to start a controlled burn to get rid of the gas from the leaking underground tank.

They began the burn around 4 p.m. yesterday and it will continue throughout the day. The tank was nearly full when the leak was discovered.

Although the fire looks frightening – a pillar of blue and orange flames shooting up from a tube in the earth – officials say it is under control, attended at all times by fire personnel.