WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer reports that the West Newbury Fire Department responded to a hazardous materials incident after a three-axle dump truck spilled diesel fuel near the Rocks Village Bridge.
Units were called to an area on Church Street at 1:37 p.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, firefighters found that a commercial dump truck had suffered a mechanical failure that resulted in a ruptured saddle fuel tank. The West Newbury Police Department, West Newbury Public Works, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Massachusetts State Police all responded for support.
A quick-thinking resident had brought over a plastic bin after noticing the incident, and the bin was able to capture much of the leaking fuel. Fire department and police investigators estimate that approximately 25-30 gallons of fuel spilled in total, but less than half that amount ended up on the ground thanks to the Good Samaritan.
The vehicle was removed from the scene and Fire Department and DPW crews were able to contain the spill, and it is believed that there was no impact to the nearby Merrimack river.
Mass. DEP is coordinating with environmental clean-up crews to clean up and remove contaminated soil under the direction of DEP, West Newbury Fire and West Newbury DPW.
###
