(Missouri Valley, IA) – The Harrison County Emergency Management Agency reports a Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) team responded to the scene of a semi tractor-trailer fire, Saturday afternoon. Officials say the Harrison County Communications Center received a 911 call at around 1:35 p.m. about a semi on fire on northbound Interstate 29, near mile marker 75. When the Missouri Valley Fire Department arrived, the rear of the semi was well involved with fire. The trailer had a hazardous and flammable materials placard.
Fire suppression efforts began, and mutual aid was requested from other departments to help with the incident. Once the flames were extinguished, the focus turned to mitigating and containing the hazardous material. The Tri-County Special Operations Team was activated. The team includes firefighters from Crawford, Harrison and Shelby Counties, who are trained in Haz-Mat response techniques. Due to the heat conditions, extra personnel were requested to relief crews already on scene to give them breaks from the heat.
A towing company and Environmental Solutions, Inc., were able to off-load the remaining hazardous material and haul it away, along with the trailer. The northbound lanes of I-29 were shut down during most of the incident. Traffic was flowing normally by around 8:30 p.m., Saturday.
Agencies assisting at the scene included:
The Missouri Valley, Logan, Modale, Woobine, Mondamin, Dunlap, Blair, NE, Crescent and Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue Departments; The Iowa State Patrol; Harrison County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa DOT; Arrow Towing; Environmental Solutions, Inc., and the Harrison County EMA.
