Friday, January 2, 2015

FIERY PROPANE TRUCK CRASH SHUTS DOWN I-20 IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS. THE PROPANE TRUCK IS ON FIRE.



Fiery propane truck crash shuts down I-20 in Arlington, Texas. THE PROPANE TRUCK IS ON FIRE.



UPDATE
Fire officials say their main concern is a possible explosion, since the 3,000 gallon tanker truck was carrying propane. It burned for hours Friday on I-20 near Bowman Springs.
Residents and businesses within a one mile radius north and south of the crash were told about the fire, and asked to voluntarily leave the area. AFD said earlier that residents within a one-mile radius were being evacuated, but a tweet just after noon corrected that information, saying residents had only been "advised" about the incident. The evacuation is now considered voluntary.

Fire fighters are also staying as far back from the scene as possible. They have set up unmanned hoses on the ground to spray thousands of gallons of water on the 18 wheeler, in an effort to keep it cool. Officials say an explosion is possible only if the container gets too hot.

A nearby natural gas plant opted to stop operations until the fire is out, as a precaution.
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ARLINGTON -- Crews are on the scene of a fiery crash involving a commercial truck and another vehicle.
The truck, which was carrying propane, is currently on fire on I-20 near Bowman Springs.
All westbound and eastbound lanes are closed at this time. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area.
No evacuations have been issued, and no one has been ordered to "shelter in place."
There is no word yet on any injuries, and no details about the crash have been released.
Friday, Jan 2, 2015 • Updated at 8:38 AM CST
An 18-wheeler fire forced authorities to shut down both directions of Interstate 20 in Arlington Friday morning.
Authorities said the 18-wheeler carrying propane and another vehicle were involved in a wreck on westbound I-20 near Bowman Springs Road at about 6:30 a.m.
As of 8:20 a.m., officials said firefighters opened a valve to release propane in order to put out the fire more quickly. Officials shut down the eastbound lanes of the interstate at that point.
No injuries have yet been reported.
Authorities have not said when they expect the interstate to reopen. Arlington Police Department officials suggested using Pioneer Parkway, Division Street or Interstate 30 as alternate routes.
I-20 shut down in Arlington after truck carrying propane catches fire
Jordan Armstrong, WFAA 12:24 p.m. CST January 2, 2015
A 'voluntary' evacuation is being made within a one-mile radius of the burning truck
ARLINGTON -- Hazmat crews are on the scene of a fiery crash involving a commercial truck and another vehicle, which has closed all lanes of Interstate 20.
Fire officials now say their main concern is a possible explosion, since the truck was carrying propane. It is currently on fire on I-20 near Bowman Springs.
All westbound and eastbound lanes are closed at this time.
Residents north and south of I-20 near the crash were told about the fire. AFD said earlier that residents within a one-mile radius were being evacuated, but a tweet just after noon corrected that information, saying residents had only been "advised" about the incident. The evacuation is now considered voluntary.
The truck driver and the driver of the other vehicle were the only people involved in the incident, which happened just after 6:15 a.m.. They were not injured.
Truck on fire in Arlington, via TxDOT camera(Photo: TxDOT)
Fire officials say they are investigating what caused the crash. Around 9:40 a.m., the Arlington Fire Department tweeted, "Crews are setting up ground sets to keep container cool, letting it burn out."
They believe it could burn for more than eight hours.
Pioneer, Division and I-30 can be used as alternate routes to Fort Worth