TURNERS FALLS – Police and fire officials say a “saddlebag” diesel fuel tank on a tractor-trailer ruptured while the truck crossed the Green Bridge over the Power Canal, possibly spilling up to 95 gallons of fuel as it traveled across the White Bridge, up Turners Falls Road, and onto the French King Highway in Greenfield.
According to Greenfield Fire Department Lt. Alex Cooley, the truck driver pulled off the road near Lodge Tire Co. and called police at about 7:30 this morning. Greenfield police and firefighters, Turners Falls Fire Department and Montague police were also called, along with both towns’ DPW workers.
The incident was also reported to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Protection , which is conducting a further investigation. Also, DEP is to hire a contractor to complete the clean-up.
A tow truck was called to the scene, to pump out any remaining diesel in the truck’s fuel tank.
“We’re glad nobody was hurt, and our guys were able to contain (the spill) as quickly and effectively as we were,” said Cooley, returning from the scene at about 11:30 a.m. He said there was a well-coordinated effort between both towns to contain the spill and keep fuel from going into the Connecticut River.
Cooley said no one knows exactly how much fuel was lost, but said that estimates of up to 90 gallons have been given. Cooley said the two saddlebag tanks were connected, so fuel could have leaked from both.
Turners Falls Fire Capt. Kyle Cogswell remarked that a single saddlebag reserve tank can hold between 60 to 100 gallons of fuel.
According to Cogswell, the truck had gone up and over the bump on the bridge over the canal, which may have ruptured the saddlebag tank. “There is quite a hump in the canal bridge,” he remarked. “The fuel was pouring out from the tank. From the White Bridge to Lodge Tire, gas spilled the entire time.”
He estimated between eight to 10 gallons spilled on the Turners Falls section of the route. Turners Falls temporarily closed off those bridges because the oil was thick enough to produce a sheen.
“We used Speed Dry and we called a DPW sander,” he said. Also, Turners and Greenfield put down fuel-spill absorbent pads to contain the spill and keep it from waterways.
The state owns the Green Bridge over the canal and is planning to replace the bridge deck in mid-October, according to Town Administrator Steven Ellis. Meanwhile, Ellis has asked MassDOT to take interim measures, such as improved signage alerting drivers to slow down and, if possible, to find a way to smooth the bump until the deck is replaced.