Trucks
Tangle in
Thruway Park-off
Mid-Town - September 12, 2000 --- A tractor-trailer carrying solid plastic materials lost control in the eastbound parking area of the New York State Thruway around milepost 443. Evans Center was dispatched at 01:17 for a reported truck fire in the service area parking lot at milepost 447 - unknown whether east or westbound.
| Further investigation by Chief Dennis Allen found nothing showing on either side of the service area. Allen headed west while Engine Co. 2, manned by Asst. Chief John Latimore and Capt. Tiger Schmittendorf headed east from the service area. Chief Allen routed Engine Co. 1 to the toll plaza to standby.Evans Center's . |
|
Engine 2 met up with a NYS Trooper car at the cross-over at milepost 444E and followed them to the parking area. When Engine 2 pulled up, they saw a line of trucks on the right shoulder and one tractor trailer partially jack-knifed over the guardrail. A tanker truck had been struck and had suffered extensive damage. No fire was readily visible.
A quick interview with the drivers of the tractor-trailers indicated that the truck that lost control was transporting some type of solid plastic products. The tanker truck that was struck was carrying edible flour and no injuries were reported despite the heavy damage to both vehicles.
| Evans Center Engine 1 drove past the
park-off and entered in through the exit ramp. Their crew of Firefighters
Scott Wheeler, Mike Hontz, Alan Beers and Charlie Klepfer along with the
operator - Firefighter Clint Soemann, set up scene lighting and stretched
a hose line to be used for foam operations.
Squad 4, operated by F/F Bob Zamrok responded from Station 2 with additional speedy-dry, and absorbent "pigs" (barriers). |
|
Evans Center's ambulance responded with Driver Frank Forczek and EMT Dan Ihrke to check out the driver of the tractor-trailer.
As a precaution, firefighters worked to lay down a bed of foam around both vehicles as the tractor-trailer was still leaking diesel fuel from a saddle tank. The driver of a "True Value" truck was awakened by the crash and saw flames coming out from underneath the tractor trailer. As part of protocol, Chief Allen summoned the NYS DEC Spill Response Team due to the fuel leak. A small ditch line was dug on the other side of the guard rail and pigs were installed to contain any seeping diesel fuel before it ran down the embankment to a larger drainage ditch below.
Crews remained on location until cleared by the DEC and Troopers and returned to service at 03:51.
Evans Center was assisted at the scene by the Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center, the New York State Police and the NYS Dept. of Environmental Control (DEC) Spill Response Team.
===================================================
Firefighting is not for everyone – but volunteering can be. Evans Center offers limited duty memberships in the areas of Fire/Rescue only, Fire Police only, Emergency Medical Services Only, Water Rescue only, or Corporate only. Corporate members support the fire department through administrative, technology, fund-raising, clerical and other non-emergency business functions.
If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact the Evans Center Fire Company at 716/549-1221 or fill our our feedback form or e-mail to: info@ecvfc.org
