POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT PREVENTED IN SILVERTON RESERVOIR
Posted: July 28th, 2010 9:33 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-07/3068/37088/NewbergDivers2.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-07/3068/37088/NewbergDivers1.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-07/3068/37088/IncidentLocation.JPG
On July 27, 2010 at 6:15 pm, the Silverton Fire District responded to a report of a vehicle that sank into deep water at the Silverton Reservoir while it was launching a boat. Because of the potential for a catastrophic hazardous materials incident occurring in a large waterway, the Silverton Fire District responded with seven pieces of various types of apparatus that utilized eighteen District personnel.
The arriving Fire District Incident Commander learned from the on scene Silverton Police Sergeant that the vehicle was a 1991 Toyota pick-up with a boat attached in the bed of the vehicle. It was immediately determined that no one was in the vehicle when it sank and no one was in any immediate danger. The Incident Commander noticed a moderate sheen of petroleum product on the water and established a protective zone around the area.
Information provided by the driver, Joseph Walrath (20 years of age,) indicated that the pick-up had just been fueled with twenty gallons of gasoline. As a result of the submergence, some gas leakage occurred from the vehicle. Approximately ten swimmers in the area came into contact the gasoline and were immediately decontaminated by Silverton Fire District personnel and were evaluated by Woodburn Ambulance.
The Incident Commander requested Newberg Fire District Dive Rescue respond to locate the vehicle so that it could be recovered quickly to minimize additional hazardous materials being deposited into the waterway. Additionally, Oregon State Hazardous Materials Team 13 from Salem Fire was contacted who also responded to the scene. Other agencies that were called at the onset of the event include: The Oregon Emergency Response System, Department of Environmental Quality, City of Silverton Water Quality Division, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marion County Public Health, and the Oregon State Police.
Newberg Fire Dive Rescue arrived quickly after being called and after entering the water, the divers indicated that they had zero visibility but were able to locate the pick-up in about 28 feet of water. The diver indicated that it was upside down and the boat was still attached in the bed of the pick-up. The divers were able to attach a cable to an anchor point on the vehicle. While the pick-up was being pulled out of the water by a local tow company, the cable came loose and Newberg Fire Divers had to re-locate the pick-up again in deep water and secure it with another line. At approximately 10:30 pm, the pick-up was successfully removed from the water.
The Newberg Fire Divers were decontaminated by Silverton Fire District personnel after they exited the water for the last time. Hazardous materials containment booms were set up in strategic locations on the water to prevent the spread of gasoline and other hazardous materials on the water. Early reports indicate that there was very little hazardous materials spilled into the reservoir and impact to the environment was minimal. Silverton Fire District units remained on scene until approximately 11:30 pm.
There were no injuries as a result of this incident.
For more information contact:
Captain Ed Grambusch
Public Information Officer
Silverton Fire District
See attached photos of the scene and Newberg Fire Divers
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