A maintenance operation at a Heetco propane facility near Lecompton is creating large flames but no danger to the facility or surrounding area, a manager at the business said Wednesday

Motorists reported seeing flames shooting into the air at Heetco’s facility along County Route 1029 south of Lecompton. But branch manager Gregg White said the flames are part of a project to replace relief valves on the approximately 20 propane tanks at the facility.

“You have to burn the vaporized gas out of the tanks in order to get the pressure off of them to work on them,” White said.

White said the company has received the necessary burn permits from area fire departments. White said work on the project likely will be completed by Friday.

He said the relief valves have to be replaced about every 10 years.