Gas Tanker Fire Shuts Down LIE For Hours

The Melville Fire Department responded to a gasoline tanker truck fire on the Long Island Expressway Tuesday at about 8:30 p.m.

The incident occurred in the westbound lanes about three-quarters of a mile west of Bagatelle Road, Exit 50. The Melville Fire Department was assisted by the Dix Hills, East Farmingdale and Huntington Manor fire departments and the Hicksville Fire Department hazmat team.

The fire was in the undercarriage of the truck involving the three rear axles and tires. The 12,000 gallon tanker portion carrying gasoline was not involved, although it was impinged by the flames. Melville firefighters used water and foam to extinguish the fire and cool down the tank, and had the blaze knocked-down in 20 minutes.

There was a minor fuel leak from the tanker which was contained by the Hicksville hazmat team. Nearly 60 firefighters were on the scene with ten trucks, under the command of Melville Fire Chief Michael McKeefrey and operational sectors handled by Assistant Chiefs Jason Bernfeld, Paul Mahler and Chris Nolan.

At 10:25 p.m. another fuel tanker arrived on the scene to offload product from the damaged tanker truck. The transfer of fuel from the damaged truck was completed at around midnight. The fire resulted in the complete closure of the LIE between Bagatelle Road and Route 110, with the eastbound lanes re-opened first before the westbound side.

Article by Steve Silverman/Photo by Melville Fire Department

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