SEATTLE – On August 1, 2018 around 10:33 p.m. the Fire Alarm Center received a report of an overturned tanker at Chelan Ave SW and Delridge Way SW. Based on that information, a hazmat response was dispatched to the intersection. Engine 36 arrived first, reporting that half of a double tanker had rolled over. Prior to their arrival, the driver had exited the truck and was not injured.
Gasoline was leaking from the overturned tanker, and because of this, firefighters applied foam to suppress gasoline vapors and to create a foam blanket over the fuel. As a precaution, the nearby Chelan Café was evacuated. Gasoline was leaking into a storm drain so Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and the United States Coast Guard were notified and responded to the incident. Once the incident became stabilized, a private contractor pumped out the remaining fuel in the overturned tanker which was then uprighted.
Over 35 units responded including the Hazardous Material Team, the Fireboat, and 21 engines. Seattle Fire remained on scene until 8:30 a.m. then turned the scene over to SPU to continue monitoring and conduct clean up operations. SPU estimates that around 3,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from the tanker and confirmed some fuel did enter the Duwamish Waterway.
