The East Montpelier, Vermont Fire/Rescue Department was toned out to a tractor trailer unit rollover on U.S. Rte 2 on Friday, December 20th a little after 7am.
The unit was loaded with number 6 heating fuel, used for industrial furnaces.
EMFD was able to contain most of the fuel spill, with the help of the Vermont State HAZMAT Team, Vermont Emergency Management, and several other local fire and EMS departments.
It took rescue workers over an hour to extricate the driver of the truck, who sustained minor injuries. Several rescue workers, mostly EMT?s from Barre Town EMS and East Montpelier Fire/Rescue were decontaminated at the Central Vermont Hospital Emergency Department after being exposed to considerable amounts of the fuel.
The entire process for rescue and HAZMAT containment took over 24 hours.
Dikes were sets up to ensure the purity of the nearby Winooski River, no contamination of water occurred.
The truck was carrying approximately 8,000 gallons of fuel.
Between 50 and 100 gallons spilled due to the result of the accident.
The rescue crews set up a precautionary evacuation perimeter of 500 feet around the accident and one resident was evacuated.
Involved fire/rescue departments included:
- East Montpelier Fire and Rescue
- Barre Town EMS
- Barre Town Fire Department
- Montpelier Fire and Rescue
- Woodbury Fire Department
- Waterbury Fire Department
- Plainfield Fire and Rescue
- Barre City EMS
- Vermont State Police
- Vermont HAZMAT Team
- Vermont Emergency Management
