A fuel tanker caught fire and exploded Wednesday morning, closing down a construction site and prompting officials to evacuate nearby buildings and block traffic on the Roebling Suspension Bridge into Covington.
The 4,000-gallon tanker caught fire at the construction site for the Ascent At Roebling's Bridge shortly after 11 a.m. Heavy smoke could be seen for miles.
"It felt like the building was actually moving when the explosion occurred," witness Janice Miller said.
Early video from the scene showed heavy flames coming from a BP truck at the north end of the construction site.
The bridge was closed to traffic and pedestrians until about 3 p.m., and people were cleared from a 1,000-foot perimeter around the fire for about 1½ hours.
Miller was in one of several riverfront buildings to be evacuated.
"I just heard everybody say, 'Grab your stuff and let's go,' and everybody started going down the steps," she said.
Fire crews from Cincinnati brought in foam that eventually extinguished the flames.
Truck driver Andrew Stauffer Sr. was injured in the explosion, but he was able to get onto a stretcher by himself. He was treated at St. Elizabeth North Hospital and released later in the afternoon.
Firefighters said an engine malfunction might have sparked the fire as the Stauffer prepared to fill an underground tank with diesel fuel.
A statement from the Ascent's builder, Corporex, said there appeared to be no structural damage to the project. The company expected the cleanup to be completed Wednesday and construction to resume Thursday.
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