A massive fire caused by a fuel tanker crash has shut down a portion of Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, and will keep the major East Coast artery closed for several days. The blaze, which erupted around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, caused significant damage to an overpass, prompting officials to announce plans for its demolition and the repaving of the affected stretch of highway.
According to officials, the incident began when a car swerved in front of a truck pulling a flatbed trailer, causing the truck to collide with a fuel tanker carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline. "To avoid it, this tractor-trailer swerved to the right and he hit the other tractor-trailer, which ripped open the back of his gasoline tanker," explained Stephen Shay of the Norwalk Fire Department.
The collision caused the tanker to burst into flames, sending a massive fireball into the air and melting the Fairfield Avenue overpass just past Exit 15 south. The intense heat from the burning fuel compromised the structure of the bridge, as well as the utility lines running underneath it. "The damage was pretty severe due to the amount of gasoline that was in the tanker. It ignited directly underneath the bridge structure. The seal did begin to overheat and warp," said a Connecticut Department of Transportation official.
In response to the incident, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency, acknowledging the "incredible inconvenience" caused by the closure of I-95 in both directions. "The traffic jams are horrendous," Lamont remarked, urging drivers to stay away from the area as best they can.
Somehow I missed this massive tanker truck fire on I-95 in Norwalk yesterday. Closed one of the busiest highways in the NE for most of the day. If only we had modern train service on the Metro North pic.twitter.com/DXH1lt938l — Jeff Pleshek (@jeffpleshek) May 3, 2024
Work to demolish the damaged overpass began early Friday morning, with crews using shears to lift the structure. The process is expected to take at least 24 hours, and the affected portion of I-95 will remain closed through at least Monday. In addition to the demolition, the road will need to be repaved.
Environmental crews have been working to clean up the gasoline and firefighting foam that spilled during the incident. Approximately 75% of the tanker's 8,500-gallon load either burned or spilled onto the highway. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reported that the runoff was contained to a retention pond and did not seep into the Norwalk River.
The closure of I-95, which serves 160,000 vehicles per day, has caused widespread delays and disruptions. Local roads, including the Merritt Parkway, have become congested as drivers attempt to navigate around the accident scene. Truckers, in particular, are feeling the impact of the closure. "For a lot of truckers, we are on the clock. So we can only work 14 hours and drive 11 hours. So this impact, it slows down the delivery time for our loads," said Avril Jenerette, a trucker.
In an effort to mitigate the impact on the community, Norwalk Public Schools announced that they will be closed on Friday due to potential traffic backups. However, athletic games, drama performances, and proms are still scheduled to take place. Connecticut officials are urging employers to allow employees to work from home if possible to help alleviate traffic congestion.
The incident has drawn the attention of federal officials, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posting on social media, "Our highways team is working closely with Connecticut's DOT on the tanker fire that has closed I-95 in Norwalk. Please heed local authorities on detours and avoid the area if possible. Thank you to the first responders who are dealing with the fire and keeping other drivers safe."
