Haz Mat Crews back to Interstate 70 for Second time in a Week
By Chief Tom Coe
January 18, 2011
Just after 6:00am units from Mt Airy and Lisbon (Howard County) were dispatched to the East Bound Lanes of Interstate 70 in the area of the 68 mile marker for a reported vehicle collision. First arriving units found a "double" tractor-trailer vs pick up truck collision. The both trailers had overturned and which caused the cargo to be scattered across the highway. Chief 1 (G. Shaw) established the Interstate 70 command and requested the Haz-Mat assignment. After recon of the cargo and a review of the shipping papers it was determined that there were hazardous substances on board the mixed load of cargo. Haz Mat crews made two entries to upright drums and identify any leaking containers. Once all of the hazardous cargo was located and any leaks stopped the incident was turned over to a heavy duty tow company to upright the vehicles and an environment clean-up contract to clean up the remaining spill. Units operated on the scene for four hours prior to returning to service.
Haz Mat Units: Haz Mat 30, Haz Mat Duty 30
Other Units: Mt Airy: Engine 12, Paramedic 18, Paramedic 19, Chief 1, Life Support 1; Lisbon (Howard County): Paramedic 45, Engine 43, Engine 41; Westview (Frederick County): HIRT 31, DECON 31, Medic 31; Ft Detrick Fire Department (Frederick County): Special Operations 50; Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland State Police, State Highway Administration
