Critical coordination: Area agencies succeed in managing nightmare scenario on I-20

Published 3:15 pm Wednesday, April 6, 2016

In July 2015, first responders from across St. Clair County gathered at an industry in Brompton to answer a question: How would we respond if a train overturned, spilling fuel into the surrounding areas? It was attended by fire departments and hazmat teams from all over the area, with Moody Fire Chief Joe Nobles serving as incident commander.

Those involved considered it a successful exercise, and as of last week it was proven during an unexpected, tragic event.

“I hated that we had to put [that training] to use, but I was glad we were prepared,” Nobles said.

On Wednesday, March 30, a tractor-trailer driven by Birmingham resident Valeria Denise Allen overturned near mile marker 149 on I-20, spilling its contents onto the road – 8,800 gallons of gasoline.

Nobles said the call went out first to Cook Springs Volunteer Fire Department, which asked for aid. Almost identical to the exercise, Moody Fire Department was first to arrive on the scene, and Nobles set up incident command as flames poured from the tanker. Moody firefighters used the interstate’s dividing wall to get close to the blaze. Nobles said it was so hot that it was the only way to approach from the west side.

At the front of the overturned truck, firefighters found one injured individual, a man who had suffered burns on his arms. He told resopnders that he and Allen had both been able to free themselves from their restraints after the crash. The man told firefighters that Allen said she was right behind him, but when he turned around she was gone.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Allen, 55, was killed in the fire.

The interstate was closed, and it remained that way for hours, during which time first responders saw three more explosions. A fuel tanker is divided into four sections, and all four erupted flames at the scene, creating a pillar of pitch smoke that could be seen for miles.

“I unfortunately have dealt with airplane crashes that are similar to that scale of power and destruction,” Pell City Fire Chief Mike Burdette said. “The explosion set fires in the woods across six lanes on both sides, and the heat literally melted the interstate.”

But by then everything had clicked for St. Clair County’s first responders.

Moody called into the St. Clair County E911 Dispatch to request mutual aid, and Pell City and Cook Springs Fire Departments drove west on the eastbound lanes – the wrong way – to reach the scene. Burdette said those teams focused on suppression, which is difficult when dealing with gasoline. Water just won’t do the job.

Several years ago, St. Clair County received a grant to purchase hazmat equipment. The decision was made at the time to divide it into two units, with one going to Pell City to cover the I-20 corridor and the other going to the Springville Fire Department to cover I-59. Pell City arrived with enough water and foam – used to put out gas fires – for only a few minutes. The call went out quickly to other departments for more water and to Springville FD Chief Richard Harvey to bring the rest of the hazmat equipment.

“When Pell City got there, they took more of a firefighting role,” Harvey said. “So when we arrived, we didn’t need to worry about suppression. We just had to look at containment.”

Largely, Harvey said, the fire itself was successful at keeping the liquid gasoline from spreading into areas it could contaminate. However, the forest on both sides of the interstate caught fire, and that’s where it pays to have competent, calm people in the chairs of a dispatch.

Bill Richvalsky, Director of the St. Clair E911, pulled two members of his team and dedicated them to assisting with the incident. They coordinated suppression efforts with Pell City, Wolf Creek and Cook springs from the east with those of Leeds and Moody from the west. They also assisted officers from departments across the county prepare for and set up proper traffic control measures as the tremendous volume of interstate traffic was rerouted to US 78, US 411 and Alabama 174. But once the fire spread to the woods, a whole new team had to be coordinated.

“At that point, we needed the Alabama Forestry Commission to get involved,” Richvalsky said. “They had to bring in bulldozers and go in on foot with backpacks to build fire breaks.”

Chief of Police Greg Turley took Air 1 up as the fire began to spread to help direct suppression efforts. Soon, the aluminum tanker itself had melted into the grass and asphalt and crews were able to apply enough foam to secure the scene.

“In the grand scheme of things, we’re all municipalities that need to rely on each other for resources and manpower,” Chief Burdette said. “And with an incident like this we have to have help, and everybody has to be on the same page. I honestly don’t think we could have drawn it up any better.”

Chief Nobles agreed. In a post on Facebook following the incident, he thanked the 15 state and local agencies that worked seamlessly to provide the best outcome possible in the situation, but also extended his sympathy for the tragedy that occurred during it.

“We are thoroughly impressed and thankful for the partnerships that we have developed over the years as our city and county have grown,” Nobles wrote. “We are also truly blessed to have such an amazing community that supports us and each other as much as you all do. Today’s events exemplified the highest quality of teamwork between multiple agencies and personnel.

“In closing, we extend our deepest sympathies, thoughts, and prayers to the victims, their families, and friends that were affected by today’s accident.”

Moody Fire Department

Pell City Fire and Rescue

Cook Springs Volunteer Fire Department

Wolf Creek Volunteer Fire Department

Leeds Fire and Rescue

Springville Fire Department

Odenville Fire Department

State Forestry Commission

Regional Paramedical Services 

Moody Police Department

Pell City Police Department

Odenville Police Department

Leeds Police Department

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Alabama State Troopers

St Clair County EMA