Published: October 22, 2009 09:13 pm      

HAZMAT team called out to truck fire

Somerset — The Somerset Fire Department and a HAZMAT team responded to a fire in a City of Somerset Sanitation truck yesterday afternoon.

Lt. Doug Burns of the Somerset Fire Department says some debris apparently fell onto the exhaust system of the garbage truck, causing the debris to ignite.

The truck stopped near the intersection of South Main Street and Dearl Whitaker Drive, where emergency workers responded and determined how to handle the situation.

“We debated whether to dump the debris into the street and extinguish it there or to haul it to the sanitation department on Clifty Street to take care of it,” Burns said.

“We decided to take it to Clifty. We thought that would be safer than dumping it in the street.”

The engine compartment and trash storage compartment of the truck sustained considerable damage while the fire burned.

The fire also caused a diesel fuel line to rupture, spilling fuel onto the roadway. The fire department used absorbent materials to collect the fuel and prevent it from leaking into storm drains. A HAZMAT team assisted in collecting the fuel.

An area surrounding the site was barricaded while crews worked to clean up the fuel spill. Burns said there was no danger, but that the area was blocked off to prevent bystanders from getting too close.

Assisting at the scene were the state highway department, county fire coordinator, city safety coordinator, and the Somerset Police Department.

Workers were on the scene for nearly four hours.