USED COOKING OIL SPILLS AFTER CRASH ON CORNELIUS PASS ROAD IN PORTLAND, OREGON

MARCH 13, 2015

PORTLAND, OREGON

Northwest Cornelius Pass Road was closed between U.S. 30 and Skyline Road after a tanker truck rolled and spilled about 2,000 gallons of used cooking oil, according to Tualatin Valley Fire &Rescue.

A hazmat team was called in to access the situation and determine if the spill had contaminated two creeks in the area. 

"The used cooking oil flowed down approximately 100 feet of roadway and off a nearby embankment," said a TVF&R public information officer. "Firefighters were able to contain the spill to a ditch running along railroad tracks at the bottom of the canyon."

After the initial investigation, nearby waterways did not appear to be contaminated.  The oil was adsorbed onto the soil.

There were no reported injuries after the 11:45 a.m. crash.

The road was expected to be closed for several hours. Detours include Northwest Cornell Road or Germantown Road for passenger traffic. Commercial trucks should use U.S. 26 and trucks hauling hazardous cargo should use Oregon 217.

Source:www.kgw.com

As we have written numerouis times, these tanker trucks have hard time negotiating a turn because the liquid sloshes and displaces the center of gravity inside the truck.  When the center of gravity changes due to sloshing, then the driver tries to over-correct and ends up crashing the tanker truck.  Only a very careful driver, going slowly around these mountainous curves can safely negotiate them.

2,000 GALLONS OF OIL AND BRINE SPILL IN BURKE COUNTY, ND

MARCH 13, 2015

BURKE COUNTY, ND

Officials are reporting a brine and oil release in Burke County.

The state health department says 60 barrels (about 2,000 gallons) of brine and five barrels of oil were spilled about 10 miles southwest of Bowbells and impacted a tributary of Stony Creek.

Impacted water has been diked to prevent further runoff downstream.

Health inspectors are on scene to monitor cleanup.

WORKER BURNED IN YERINGTON GAS DELIVERY TRUCK FLASH EXPLOSION DURING FILLING

Jim Menesini of Jim Menesini Petroleum checks inside the tank of this gas delivery tanker Thursday while firefighters stand nearby with a hose after an employee was burned from an explosion while filling the truck’s tank earlier that morning.

MARCH 13, 2015

YERINGTON, CALIFORNIA

A gasoline distribution company employee was transported to a California hospital for treatment after being burned in a Thursday morning flash explosion at the Bulk Plant in Yerington.

The Mason Valley Fire Protection District is investigating the incident. The name of the victim was not available from authorities as of Thursday afternoon.

A press release from the Lyon County Sheriff's Office reported the victim was filling a tank on a commercial delivery tanker at Jim Menesini Petroleum when fumes ignited, causing the flash explosion at approximately 8:15 a.m. today. 

The release continued to say two people on scene gave the victim first-aid and extinguished the flames before responders arrived.

The LCSO reported the male victim suffered burns to his face and hands. No one else was injured in the incident.

The man was transported to South Lyon Medical Center by MVFPD ambulance and then flown to U.C. Davis hospital for advanced medical treatment.

Source:www.rgi.com

Most likely static electricity caused the flash explosion; perhaps he was smoking or he had his cell phone on or he created static electricity

A MAN ACCUSED OF SPARKING A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AT HIS CANON CITY HOME IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE WILL UNDERGO A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION BEFORE ENTERING A PLEA.

MARCH 12, 2015

CANON CITY, COLO. (AP)

A man accused of sparking a natural gas explosion at his Canon City home in an attempt to commit suicide will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before entering a plea.

The Canon City Daily Record reports Mathew Christensen, who is facing charges of fourth-degree arson and felony criminal mischief, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 8.

Investigators say the Sept. 4 explosion, which was caused by a natural gas detonation, threw Christensen into the backyard. 

The house was destroyed, but the man escaped with non-life-threatening burns.

Nearby homes and vehicles were damaged, and insulation and debris from the exploded home was strewn across the neighborhood and in nearby streets.

BUILDING EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY DURING A LAB EXPERIMENT.

MARCH 13, 2015

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

Police and firefighters were at North Dakota State University Friday morning after a chemical spill in a research building.

Two students were working in a lab in the Research I building at 8:45 a.m. “when a bottle containing a chemical broke,” according to a statement posted on NDSU’s Facebook page.

The building, which is on the north side of campus, was evacuated and all safety protocols were followed, the university said in the post. 

No one was injured.

University police and the Fargo Fire Department are assessing the spill, which will be cleaned up according to safety protocols, the post said.