TAMPA, FL. – At 11:52 this morning Tampa Fire Rescue responded to an overturned semi-truck on the corner of W. Gandy Blvd. and Westshore Boulevard.
Rescue 15 was first on the scene to find an overturned tanker truck with a hazardous material inside it. It was observed that a liquid was leaking from the trailer and a full hazardous materials response was called.
Once identifying the chemical by the placard on the vehicle, it was known to be aviation fuel. Inside the trailer was 8,000 gallons of fuel.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we evacuated the Circle K, and asked businesses on the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of W. Gandy and Westshore Blvd. to shelter in place,” said Tampa Fire Rescue PIO.
All traffic was halted between Manhattan Ave. to Bridge St. as cars were rerouted. The Selmon Expressway Extension was also closed due to its proximity to the scene.
Tampa Fire personnel began mitigating the spill by creating a dam from soil in the median to keep the fuel from entering the sewer system and waterways.
They also conducted foam operations by spraying a blanket of foam over the fuel to avoid any sparks or the possibility of ignition.
The tanker leak stopped at 4:00 pm. 1,200 gallons of fuel was recovered.
Cliff Barry Environmental Services was the company called out to clean up the spill and Stepps Towing righted and towed the tanker.
At approximately 5 pm, the Selmon Extension was reopened. As of 9:15 pm, Gandy Blvd was still closed due to clean-up operations.
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