Cleanup Continues Following Tanker Truck Explosion & Fire Last Saturday

Frederick City officials there is no environmental threat to the public.House damaged by fire in Frederick on Saturday (Photo from Division of Fire & Rescue Services)Frederick, Md (KM) The cleanup continues near the site of Saturday’s tanker truck explosion and fire along Route 15. but Frederick City Officials say there is no environmental threat to the public. They say the city is working with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Frederick County to monitor any environmental impacts.The tanker truck driver died  after the vehicle struck a tree, overturned, caught fire and exploded. There were no other injuries.In the coming days and weeks, residents will see workers in the area near the crash site conducting additional tests, and removing any contaminated soils, replacing them with clean soils.Frederick   officials say there was no damage to Carroll Creek or the City’s sanitary sewer system. But some fuel did enter limited sections of the storm drains and culverts between the location of the accident and Baker Park. These sections are expected to be cleaned and inspected as part of a remediation process.Apple Avenue, where there was significant damage, will be closed for an extended period of time to allow crews to do their work. Fire officials say the flames from the tanker truck extended into homes along Apple Avenue. One house was sustained considerable damage and was declared uninhabitable. Two other homes suffered superficial damage. Several vehicles also sustained fire damage.By Kevin McManus