Anyone Catch The News From Pa This Morn - 22 Aug?

[MalahatTwo7]

At 1045 this morn the TV news reported that a tanker truck had rolled over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but I didnt catch the exact loc. I saw that the truck had burned itself to the ground; fire crews were still squirting foam on it at that time. Also there was no word on the driver.

Anyone know or hear more on it?

[bobsnyder]

Gasoline truck overturns, burns on highway in Plymouth Meeting

By Larry Fish

(Philadelphia) Inquirer Staff Writer


A gasoline truck overturned and burned in Plymouth Meeting this morning at the junction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Northeast Extension, closing the northbound ramp, turnpike officials said.

The truck had been eastbound on the turnpike and had entered the ramp to the Northeast Extension when it flipped at about 8:30 a.m., turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said. There were no injuries and no other vehicles involved, though rush-hour traffic was snarled and a thick plume of smoke was visible for miles.

At midday, the ramp for eastbound turnpike traffic to reach the northbound highway remained closed and traffic was being detoured via Route 309 to Lansdale.

Fire equipment from nearby Willow Grove Naval Air Station helped fight the fire.

DeFebo said the truck driver, who walked away from the accident, appeared to speak only Russian, and officials could not immediately determine who owns the truck or details of the accident.


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Contact staff writer Larry Fish at 610-313-8109 or lfish@phillynews.com

[rscamaro73]

Wow...that's not TOO far from me (maybe 30 min). I didn't hear anything about it.

Willow grove prolly sent the P-19's (my old forte) ;)

[MalahatTwo7]

Kuull the great part is the driver walked, and no one else was injured. Pretty kull that the NAS guys got to play too. I didnt see any of their apparatus in the news, but thats ok. It would explain why there great buckets of foam everywhere though, if they sent a crash truck :)

[skyraider]

[QUOTE]Fire equipment from nearby Willow Grove Naval Air Station helped fight the fire. [QUOTE]
I guess the new PC term for firefighters is now "fire equipment???" :rolleyes:

[jonemac]

So THAT was all the smoke this morning?

I'm on the other side of Philadelphia, down near the airport, and could see the smoke column from here, driving in.

The comment about NAS Willow Grove being there was probably just some good press for the base. The BRAC commission is reviewing the recommendation to close that base, and there's a lot of folks here locally fighting it.

I also suspect that, since its a Naval Air Station (NAS), they're sitting on a pretty big pile of AFFF foam buckets. Just the thing for a gasoline tanker truck.

[jvencius]

Holy smokes--I'm originally from that area (Lansdale, to be exact) and that particular on/off ramp junction is a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY bad place to have a wreck. On a good day the traffic through there is dreadful and when it's clogged, you might as well shut off the engine and take a nap--you're going to be there a while. I'll have to ask my folks if they could see the smoke this morning. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[hwoods]

Made the TV News in Baltimore. Some comments were made by a person in a White Helment, which made me think that he is a Fire Officer, However, he had a Beard. Strange..........

[rscamaro73]

I also suspect that, since its a Naval Air Station (NAS), they're sitting on a pretty big pile of AFFF foam buckets. Just the thing for a gasoline tanker truck.


They have P-19's on the base for aircraft fire crews. 1000 gal of water, 130 gal of class A foam (light water, 3%). Good for 70 seconds of wide open roof and bumper turrets....a while longer with the 1" handline (hard rubber trash line type).

Yeah, those were my 'meat and potatoes' when I was in as a Crash Crewman....I could drive circles around people in their cars ;)

[Safety33]

Ironically, both of my companies respond to that section of the Northeast Extension of the PA Turnpike, but I was at work when the accident/fire took place.

The driver of the truck was flown for percautionary measures. I think he suffered a concussion and some bruises.

One of the mutual aid companies has a foam trailer with a nozzle attached. This is the second time we have used them on the Turnpike. Three tankers were also used.

The crash truck, from what I was told, knocked down the fire in a couple of minutes. The initial crews tried using buckets of foam and the foam trailer.

For pics, go to www.phillyfirenews.com

Hwoods- Yes, you were right. The guy with beard is the Chief of one of my companies.

[Spartanguy1]

It happened about 2 minutes in front of me. I was driving a demo chassis through the tunnel east of Somerset, came out of the tunnel and everyone slammed on the brakes. It wasn't a tanker it was a box type trailer and the cab was on fire. The truck blocked both eastbound lanes and traffic was stopped for about 2-1/4 hours. I have digital photos as well as a short video clip if you are interested.

I heard that the driver escaped and is fine, but not confirmed.

[Spartanguy1]

Sorry, there must have been two different truck fires.

[bobsnyder]

Made the TV News in Baltimore. Some comments were made by a person in a White Helment, which made me think that he is a Fire Officer, However, he had a Beard. Strange..........

Dude, this is Pennsylvania, not Maryland.

You see, up here in these parts, you can't:

- Adopt or enforce NFPA safety, operations, or pretty much any similar standards * whine* because we're only volunteers and people might quit if you do!! * /whine *

- Adopt or enforce minimum training or certification standards of any kind * whine* because we're only volunteers and people might quit if you do!! * /whine *

- Require officers to lead by example, go to any extraordinary lengths to prepare for command, or pretty much anything else that might constitute leadership...and you never, never, ever vote one out of office after they're in * whine* because they're only volunteers and they might quit if you do!! * /whine *

- Separate firefighting operations from their social clubs (read: bars) since these are "the roots of fire service pride and tradition in our state" and, besides, you'd pi$$ off some of the crew who like to booze after drill and * whine* they're only volunteers and they might quit if you do!! * /whine *

Someday, Pennsylvania will grow up. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll live long enough to see it.

Oh, how I wish this were Maryland. I sooooo wish this were Maryland... :o