On Wednesday, Aug. 13, about 45 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the storm drain next to McDonald's in Gorman. Blue and white sandbags were used to help control the flow of spilled fuel, and sand was spread to help absorb it. HMHTTC Response out of Asuza was called to clean up the spill.
Southbound I-5 Briefly Blocked by Big Rig, Northbound I-5 Open Following Vehicle Fire Thursday, Diesel Spill Wednesday in Gorman
Thursday, Aug. 14, 1:05 p.m.—The #2 lane on southbound Interstate-5 was briefly blocked by a big rig near Grapevine Road. The far right and two left lanes remained open. By 1:26 p.m. Jim’s Towing was on scene and helping to clear the lane.
Thursday, Aug. 14, 12:25 p.m.—All northbound lanes are now open following a several lane closure Thursday morning due to a vehicle fire at the Grapevine Inspection area on northbound Interstate-5 (about one mile north of Grapevine Road).
At 8:40 a.m. a tanker truck hauling gas pulled to the right hand shoulder to extinguish a tire fire. Fort Tejon CHP closed all northbound lanes for public safety, with patrols from Newhall and Bakersfield standing by to assist with closures from the 138 to Laval Road. By 9:28 a.m. the fire was extinguished and only the two right lanes remained closed while fuel was off loaded from the tanker.
By 12:41 p.m. all lanes were once again opened with traffic flowing according to the CHP Traffic Information web site.
These incidents followed a diesel fuel spill at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 in Gorman.
A Werner Enterprises tractor-trailer was traveling south on I-5 when the driver hit an object in the road which punctured one of his fuel tanks. He pulled off the freeway at Gorman and parked next to McDonald’s. About 45 gallons of fuel had been released and had flowed into the storm drain.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Haz-Mat responded to the 9-1-1 call within 15 minutes and CHP closed the road for a short time. Sand was poured on the roadway to control the spread of the fuel.
According to Fort Tejon CHP Sergeant Whitty, the main concern was removing the fuel from the storm drain. While not highly flammable, the diesel could contaminate the ground water.
HMHTTC Response out of Azusa, California was called to clean up the spill. By 7 p.m. Wednesday evening they had pumped 4,000 gallons of water out of the storm drain in efforts to clean up the spill. According to Los Angeles County Fire Department Haz-Mat Specialist Alfonso Berumen, more work was needed to complete the cleanup to his satisfaction.
At 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 LA County Fire Department Haz-Mat Specialist Alfonso Berumen called The Mountain Enterprise with an update. He stated the HMHTTC Response team was at the site until 11:40 p.m. Wednesday night. They pumped an additional 1,260 gallons from three locations inside the tunnel. Berumen confirmed that by smell and observation that the fuel was cleaned up.
This is part of the August 15, 2008 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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