Sand and Shovels

By Michael N. Ciampo

Responding to an auto accident with limited information, we arrived to find two cargo box tractor trailers twisted together. As luck would have it, they were going up a grade and had two lanes blocked on the three-lane highway-and we were approaching from the downhill side. Although our initial size-up revealed that they had no Department of Transportation placards on their sides, that didn’t mean that they weren’t carrying some type of hazardous materials. (Always ask the driver what type of load he is carrying, and look at the shipping papers required to be carried in the cab.)

As we began to block the two lanes of traffic using the apparatus as a safety barrier, we noticed a steady stream of liquid running down the hill toward us along the curb. We managed to keep the apparatus out of the oncoming spill and decided not to use any flares until we found out what it was. A car could have been pinned beneath one of the trailers unseen from our vantage point, and the leaking gasoline could have been a problem if we used flares.

Realizing we had two initial problems-traffic control and a hazardous materials spill-we had to perform two quick tactics to alleviate some of our problems. The chauffeur quickly grabbed our traffic cones to run them alongside the accident scene and keep vehicles from entering our work area, and another member grabbed our absorbent and made a large dike in front of the storm drain. The liquid hadn’t made it there yet but was quickly on its way downhill toward it. The dike was a semicircle about four feet long and about a half foot high. When the initial dike was completed, we started a second, larger one farther up the hill; the fluids leaked across two full lanes of the expressway before they ran down to about two feet from the curb.

Approaching the accident scene, we could see that the tractor’s fuel tank was severed and fluid was gushing out at a rapid rate. The driver was unsure if the saddle tanks on each side of the tractor had an isolation zone valve (which enables a tank to be manually shut down from feeding the other side’s tank; newer trucks pull fuel off both tanks at the same time and may not have these valves). We didn’t locate a valve after crawling under the tractor out of the spilled fuel and looking on top of the tractor’s chassis rails.

Since there was no extrication needed or civilian injuries, we focused on trying to mitigate or slow down the leak, prevent it from spreading into the storm drain system, and cover the spilled diesel fuel with absorbent. Because of the complexity of the situation and the amount of fuel spilled, hazardous materials units were dispatched to assist in the operation. We also requested that the police provide traffic control and that the Public Works Department provide sand. Vehicles had already driven through the spill and dragged it up the roadway, creating a slippery road ahead of the accident.

While awaiting police and public works’ arrival, we began to formulate some plans and review our initial actions. First, we modified the dikes; they were beginning to fill up with fuel. Other companies on the scene depleted their absorbent trying to make the dykes larger, so we took shovels off the apparatus and used the dirt along the highway to reinforce the width and height of the dikes. (Try and keep at least a flat and round-tipped shovel on the apparatus at all times.) On one member’s suggestion, we took a few trauma pads from the emergency medical service equipment and stuffed them into the split on the tank to slow the leak. Then we took the plastic from the pad’s protective packaging and duct taped it over the pad and onto the tank. Meanwhile, some salvage plastic was brought to the scene to cover this “homegrown innovation” and seal the leak better. This held and then stopped the leak.

On arrival, the hazmat unit was surprised to see our creation. Hazmat members began to offload the remaining fuel and spread additional absorbent on the spill. The sand truck arrived and began spreading sand all over the spill and highway, creating a homemade beach.

When we got back to quarters, we held a critique and discussed the following:

• If needed, place solid hose caps and the air chuck cap on a length of hose and fill with air. Place the hose on the ground and cover with sand to make a large dike. Use this hose setup on bodies of water to dike a spill or assist a water rescue.
• In many instances, you may need to stretch and operate a foam line to cover a spill and the escaping vapors. While setting up this line, have a portable foam extinguisher ready.
• Small pop-up containment pools are available and good for spills but may not be big enough when dealing with larger fuel tanks. Carry five-gallon buckets to assist at spill scenes.
• Always maintain situational awareness. The passing motorists are often more intent on snapping a photo or videotaping than driving.

Hopefully, this isn’t your only time for sand and shovels this summer.

For related video, go to http://bcove.me/6qmygn5n

MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 28-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.