Photos by Gerald Wyhopen Jr. and Joe Mason
Story by Carla Firey
Firehouse.com News
A gas tanker carrying 3,000 gallons of gas caught fire on Route 80 in New
Jersey Friday, causing a massive explosion and the closing of the highway.
A tractor-trailer’s rear brakes locked on the highway, and the truck was
forced to stop in the westbound lane, said Fire Chief Tom Beatty of the
Denville Fire Department. The gas tanker truck swerved to avoid the stopped
semi, and it tipped on its side. "It was upside down when we arrived," said
Beatty.
Gas had spilled from the tanker and covered the highway. When another
tractor-trailer smashed into the rear end of the stopped semi, the gas
fueled the fire that ignited. Rescue personnel were dispatched from
Denville, said Beatty. The fire department concentrated their efforts on
the burning semis. But a few minutes following the firefighters’ arrival,
the gas tanker truck ignited and exploded into flames.
"We started calling mutual aid," said Beatty. It took 100 firefighters from
Denville, Rockaway Township, Rockaway, Boonton, Parsippany, and Picatinny
Arsenal to control the flames, said Wyhopen.
"Initially, there was a lack of water because of the noise barriers
installed on the highway," said Joe Mason of the Rockaway Township Fire
Department. The noise barriers that line the highway create a blockade
between the road and hydrants. Although the barriers are equipped with
holes through which hoses can be passed, it slows the process. "Long hose
lays and water tanker shuttles from two Rockaway Township tanker/pumpers
were initiated," said Mason.
The gasoline from the burning tanker flowed down the highway into catch
basins that emptied into to the Rockaway River, said Mason. "The blazing
liquid ran under bridges on Route 80 causing structural damage to the
bridge."
According to Beatty, the flames were so hot that they caused the rod
foundation of the bridge to bend. The fire under the bridge eventually
burned out without assistance from the firefighters.
According to Wyhopen, the New Jersey State DOT stated that Route. 80 west
would be closed throughout the weekend. Other reports suggest that it will
be weeks until traffic returns to normal on the highway. "They’re building
a temporary bridge," said Beatty.
One of the Denville engines was damaged when the tanker exploded, but no one
was injured.
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