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The National Response Center notified EPA (NRC Report #782053) on 10 December 2005 of a fire involving a tractor trailer containing approximately 9,000 gallons of unleaded fuel. The PRP is Dupre Transport, LLC of Dallas, Texas. The truck was traveling east bound on the George Bush turnpike when at approximately 0915, the truck operator noticed flames coming from the rear tire of the trailer. The operator pulled the tractor trailer over onto the south easement and attempted to extinguish the fire. The fire continued to grow, eventually consuming the entire vehicle along with its contents. Local fire departments responded using water and foam to combat the flames.
On 10 December 2005, EPA OSC Raji Josiam and 3 START-2 contractors responded to the incident. EPA representatives observed the fire was extinguished and also observed a one hundred foot fire water runoff pathway on the south side of the sound attenuation wall, separating the turnpike easement from a residential area south of the incident. EPA representatives conducted air monitoring using a toxic vapor analyzer (TVA-1000) and benzene colorimetric tubes. The TVA readings in the area of the runoff were 3-5 ppm above background levels. The results from the benzene colorimetric tubes were non- detect.
PRP contractor Eagle Construction of Fort Worth Texas will remove soil contaminated by the fire runoff water on the south side of the sound attenuation wall on 11 December 2005 (Sunday). Eagle will then take soil samples of the area and supply results to the EPA.
The spill pathway is within 100 feet of a day care facility that was closed at the time of the incident but will reopen on Monday morning. The west bound and east bound lanes of George Bush Turnpike were closed after the incident. At approximately 1250, the west bound lanes of the turnpike were reopened.
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