Truck Overturns Spilling Hazardous Materials In Buckingham

BUCKINGHAM, PA — A truck flipped over Wednesday morning on Swamp Road spilling ammonium nitrate and blocking the roadway for hours.

At 6:10 a.m., Lingohocken’s Rescue 35 and Engine 35, Northampton Township Fire Department Rescue 3, and Warwick Township Fire Company No. 1 Rescue 66 responded for an auto extrication in the 1400 block of Swamp Road. Callers were reporting a dump truck rolled over with the driver entrapped.

When Lingohocken’s Chief 35 arrived, the driver was already out of the vehicle and told firefighters that the truck was used for quarry blasting and was hauling thousands of pounds of Ammonium Nitrate and blasting materials.

A significant portion of the Ammonium Nitrate was spilled on the roadway and surrounding area and was combining with a significant amount of diesel fuel leaking from the truck’s 200 gallon saddle tank.

Chief 35 established command and began dedicating resources to evacuating the immediate area.

(Lingohocken Fire Company)

(Lingohocken Fire Company)

(Lingohocken Fire Company)

In consultation with representatives from Bucks County Special Operations, Bucks County 911, and the Buckingham Township Fire Marshal, out of an abundance of caution a shelter in place order was issued for a half mile radius via reverse 911. Fire crews then stood by at a safe distance and allowed technicians from the blasting company to mitigate the danger by removing the blasting materials and Ammonium Nitrate.

After the truck’s diesel fuel leak was contained, the truck was uprighted and checked for any additional hazards. A representative from the DEP was also on the scene.

According to firefighters, at no point was any water, foam, or any other extinguishing agent applied to the accident scene.

Once the truck was uprighted, firefighters were cleared from the scene and the scene was turned over to cleanup and utility crews.

Assisting Lingohocken at the scene were the Buckingham Township Police Department, Central Bucks Emergency Medical Services, and Newtown Fire Rescue.