Long HAZMAT Run for the Battalion |
| By Assistant Chief Tom Wood | |
| January 26, 2009 | |
| At 0233, units from Stonewall, Coles, and Buckhall were dispatched on a mutual aid assignment to Loudon County for an overturned tanker truck on the Dulles Greenway. BC501Y (Wood) was dispatched with the HAZMAT resources from Prince William County to assist in containing 7500 gallons of spilled diesel fuel. The response required BC501Y to travel through Fairfax County, past Dulles Airport, and almost to Leesburg, VA, a total of 28 miles. BC501Y arrived on the scene to find Loudon County Fire involved in a major containment operation. The tanker had rolled over in the median strip and torn open, dumping most of it's 7500 gallons. The fuel ran down storm drains and into a creek. Prince William's resources were deployed to assist in containing the runoff, assisting units from Loudon and Dulles Airport. Cold temperatures and snow flurries made the work difficult. A number of booms were strung across the creek to contain the fuel which had already reached the water. At the same time, several dams were constructed using absorbent to stop further flow from the tanker. Ultimately, an underflow dam had to be constructed in the frigid water, allowing clean water to continue to flow downstream while the product was contained. BC501Y was relieved by HMO502 (Heindrichs) at approximately 0545. All PW units were released at approximately 0700. The Dulles Greenway remained closed until approximately 0930. |
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| Units: | BC501Y (Wood) |
| Mutual Aid: | HS506, HS516, E516B, HMO502 |