Crews stop leak of liquid fertilizer in Clarendon, working on cleanup at Route 237 site
Provided photos from Orleans EMO: The Monroe County Fire Bureau Hazmat Team works to contain the leak on an overturned tanker.
CLAREENDON – Emergency response crews have stopped the leak of liquid nitrogen fertilizer after a tractor trailer rolled over at 3:30 p.m. on Route 237 in Clarendon.
The crews are expected to be there for a while longer on the cleanup, the Orleans Emergency Management Office said.
The spilled product poses no significant health risk and is primarily an eye and skin irritant. Air quality monitoring is being done in the area of the scene, with no adverse readings are being indicated at this time, said the Orleans EMO.
The Clarendon Fire Company and Monroe Ambulance were dispatched to the accident in the area of 4602 Holley-Byron Rd. Upon arrival Clarendon firefighters reported a tractor trailer on its side with liquid nitrogen dumping from the top hatch of the trailer, and the driver out of the vehicle sitting on the side of the road.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Monroe Ambulance.
The tractor trailer was carrying approximately 6,100 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer at the time of the accident. As of 5:45 p.m., Monroe County Fire Bureau Hazmat Team was able to stop the leak. At this time, crews are working to drain the remaining liquid nitrogen from the tank, before the truck and trailer can be removed, the Orleans EMO said.
The accident shut down a section of Route 237 between Church Street and Hinds Road.
The NYS DEC Spill Response Team is on scene and monitoring the situation and assessing the potential environmental impact. Holley-Byron Road (Route 237) remains closed at this time between Church Street and Hinds Road in the Town of Clarendon.
At this time the following agencies have been involved with the response: Clarendon, Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Barre and Albion Fire Departments, Orleans County Emergency Management, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Ambulance, Monroe County Fire Bureau, NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, National Grid, A.D. Call and Son’s, and Kerhaert’s Towing.
“It was quite a team effort,” said Dale Banker, Orleans County EMO coordinator. “Great work by all.”
Albion, Kendall and Brockport are standing by to cover jobs in the eastern and central portions of the county. Crews will be on scene for quite some time this evening as cleanup efforts continue, the Orleans EMO said.
