Three plant workers were seriously injured when a tanker truck being loaded with diesel fuel and tar caught fire and exploded.
Fire breaks out in Glenville, right behind our construction site. pic.twitter.com/1I76xqMxSo
— Rivers Casino Resort (@RiversCasino_NY) October 17, 2016
Thomas Corners Fire Chief Gregg Petricca said, “I believe they were doing something with a valve of the tanker and it created a spark and that’s what started the fire. They were off-loading a kerosene-diesel-fuel-tar mix. Basically, it’s tar cut with kerosene.”
Several sources reported that a valve on the tanker was being repaired and caused a spark, leading to the explosion.
By 1 p.m., emergency crews arrived at the plant located at 6 Freemans Bridge Road.
EMS crew moves victim to helo as firefighters cool off the burned out tanker in Glenville NY. @nysfirechiefs #Explosion #fire pic.twitter.com/eA7bs9ahJ2
— ©Skip Dickstein (@SKIPSCAM) October 17, 2016
Crews cleanup at the scene of a tanker fire at Mohawk Asphalt Emulsions in Glenville pic.twitter.com/WJdF2hTfib
— will waldron (@willwaldron) October 17, 2016
The three injured workers who were covered in burns remained conscious during their transport to hospitals.
TWC News reported that it is unclear whether injures are life-threatening.
Ryan Glennon, from Guilderland, New York, was helping load the truck when he heard someone yell, “fire!” He was able to escape moments before the explosion and called 911.
Glennon explained, “It was just a big orange cloud, basically.” He commented that at least a dozen people were working on the scene at the time.
Emergency crew shut down Freemans Bridge Road between Maxon Road Extension and Sunnyside Road around 2 p.m. The road was reopened at around 2:30 p.m.
The incident remains under investigation.
