At approximately 7 a.m. on March 29, the Shelby County, Tenn. Fire Department dispatched a call for a motor vehicle accident on the Austin Peay Highway in North Shelby County.
A tanker truck was reported to be fully involved with a full 8,000-plus gallon load of gasoline.
The initial dispatch included Engine 69, Rescue 66, Battalion 22, Millington Engine 337 and Millington Battalion 23.
Millington Engine 337 was the first on the scene at 7:05 a.m. followed immediately by SCFD Engine 69 and Battalion 23.
The assessment was that additional equipment would be needed. Additional companies and personnel that were dispatched included Shelby County Engine 64, Decon, Air Truck, Supply for foam, 201, 200 and 217.
Millington also responded with 300, 301 and the air crash truck from the Millington Airport. Shelby County Fire also had the assistance of two off-duty firefighters to function in the command post.
Initial suppression efforts included two engine companies making an aggressive attack that did not extinguish the fire. The firefighters from Engine 69 and 337 were pulled to reposition just before the tanker itself rapidly progressed with an explosion.
Command requested additional assistance from Memphis Hazmat. They immediately responded with Rescue 3, Battalion 11, Division 105,107, Admin Chief 101 and light water.
In addition, the Shelby County Road Department responded with personnel and heavy earth moving equipment for dikes and berms to control any spillage.
Millington Public Works responded with sand trucks and all fuel spillage was contained.
As efforts were made to mount an attack with foam, the fire was kept contained.
When safety for all involved was assured the attack began in earnest from SCFD Engine 64. Rescue 66 SORT personnel with RIT as a back-up advanced on the fire and it was extinguished in a matter of minutes.
Additional responding agencies included: Memphis and Shelby County EMA, TEMA, TDOT, Brush Truck 71 from Arlington, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Shelby County Sheriffs Office.
Austin Peay Highway remained closed throughout the lunch hour while the responding agencies monitored air quality and supervised the offloading of unburned fuel.
Three adjacent homes were evacuated that included a total of nine residents. These citizens were taken to an area school and later went to the homes of friends and relatives.
One minor injury to a Shelby County firefighter occurred when a hose line burst spraying foam into his eyes. At the time of the report, he was taken to Methodist North where his eyes were to be flushed.
