SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Around 10:30 PM on Thursday, August 10, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched a Pottsville Fire Chief to the area of Centre Street and Mauch Chunk Street for a report of fluid on the roadway.
P-6 was advised of a report of a tractor trailer that had a ruptured fuel tank in the area and was still driving on Centre Street. Callers were reporting a large amount of diesel fuel on the roadway. P-6 requested Stations 10 and 70 be added to the run.
Crews arrived to find a large spill that began near Morris Street where a fire hydrant was sheared off and continued to the intersection of Norwegian Street where diesel continued to pour out of the saddle tank.
Units arrived on scene and began to place absorbent and booms around storm drains in an attempt to stop the spread of the fuel. Engine 32 was dispatched to the scene as was fire police as Centre Street needed to be shut down.
Personnel attempted to stop the leak which was still flowing for nearly thirty minutes. Additional firefighters dumped floor dry on the ground that was brought to the scene by Utility 34. Engine 41 was also dispatched to the scene.
Police could be seen questioning the driver of the rig as he watched crews attempt to contain the mess.
P-6 could be seen coordinating with the City Streets crew on deciding how to clean up the mess. P-6 was also communicating with the County Emergency Management Director.
Firefighters continued to work on the scene until the hazard was mitigated. Some units were released around midnight while the final ones remained on scene just before 1 AM.
