TANK TRUCK ROLLOVER |
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B-Shift responded to a scene where a gasoline tank truck had been hit by a train, puncturing one of the fuel compartments and rolling the truck over onto its side. Upon arrival they found the driver of the truck still trapped within his cab. These photos tell the story of its successful and safe mitigation.
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Foam, Foam and more Foam
The first order of business was to stop the incident from spreading to the surrounding exposures. A heavy foam blanket serves to smother the vapors and prevent them from finding a nearby ignition source.
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It's Snowing in Florida
Water serves only to spread gasoline and make a bad situation worse. A good foam blanket is needed to smother the fuel vapors and stop them from traveling.
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Drilling the Tank
Although several compartments of fuel had been compromised, there was still an entire compartment that was secure. Before the tank could be set right, this tank had to be emptied of its contents. The only way to accomplish this is to drill a hole in what is now the top of the tank and insert a "stinger" tube which will be able to vacuum up the contents of the tank.A foam blanket continues to protect the drillers and a grounding wire has already been secured to eliminate any static buildup which might produce sparks. |
Overhaul
Once the tank has been rendered safe, the train can be moved back out of the way and two tow trucks will be brought in to set the tank back up on its wheels.
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