April 15, 2011

At approximately 03:11 hours Centre County Emergency Communications Center (CCECC) received a report of a vehicle fire near mile marker 76 on I-99 and at 03:13 dispatched Company 5 to the area. Additional information received identified the incident as a tanker truck fire resulting from a collision between two tractor trailer rigs with the tanker rear-ending a paper hauler while travelling in the southbound lanes. The actual location was in Benner Township, just north of Exit 76 (Shiloh Road).

Engine 510 was first in and took a position for public protection, blocking traffic just north of the incident. Chief 502 (Kurzinger) arrived quickly behind the engine and assumed command. Units observed total destruction of the truck’s cab with fire extending to the cargo trailer. Hazmat and additional units were requested by 502 and upon arrival of hazmat a unified command was established (Fire, Hazmat, PSP). Chief 500 (Yocum) handled Operations, Chief 201 (Baney) handled water supply. County and Centre Region EMA handled Logistics.

Numerous resources were requested to establish water supply, assist with traffic control and isolation, queue recovery resources, and provide for the needs of responders at an incident of extended duration. Water tankers were refilled at Shiloh Road and command and water supply activities used the entire northbound side of the highway. Once the product was verified, three phases of the operation were planned: extinguish the fire, render the vehicle safe, recovery of the driver’s remains.

An initial effort to reduce the fire to the cargo area and cool the cargo with water was halted after Hazmat observed a marked change in fire behavior. The effort moved to a defensive operation with fixed monitors flowing about 1000 GPM for some time until the fire exhibited consistent behavior. During this period, foam assets were amassed to complete extinguishment, which would not commence until product recovery assets were in place and ready. Holding an effective foam blanket was identified as a problem since the accident site had considerable slope. Runoff was already a concern that was being addressed by DEP and Penn DOT; they plugged the overflow drains in a nearby retention basin. To hold the foam blanket in place Hazmat constructed a large underflow dam below the site. This proved effective and the fire was extinguished at approximately 09:12 hours. Eagle Towing, the recovery contractor for the trucking firm began product transfer at approximately 09:57 hours. The driver’s remains were recovered by fire personnel at approximately noon. Emergency units cleared at 14:06 hours.

During this incident Mifflin County Tankers 6 and 7 covered Centre County water supply from Bellefonte. Centre Hall Engine 410 covered Company 5.