Incident # 26-00619 - Fire-Rescue responded as mutual aid to assist Dorchester County Fire-Rescue with a gasoline tanker fire on Interstate 95 near the 72 mile marker northbound Friday morning 23-January at 11:11. The 2800 gallon, gasoline tanker truck caught fire and was well involved. The vehicle fire extended to a grass and woods fire on the northbound shoulder and the median. Dorchester County responders shutdown both north and southbound lanes. The plume of thick black smoke could be seen 10 miles from the scene. Most of the I-95 traffic was detoured to the two lane US Hwy 15 causing major traffic headaches as the heavier than normal traffic migrated to side roads. Many travelers were headed south to avoid the approaching ice storm predicted for the east coast this weekend.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue dispatched personnel, the ARFF and several Tenders to aid in the extinguishment efforts. Fire units had problems reaching the scene due to backed up traffic on I-95 and travelers who turned around and were driving south in the northbound breakdown lane and median shoulder. Dorchester County had already shut down the Interstate, so units were directed to respond to Saint George and travel south in the northbound lanes to reach the scene. The ARFF used the bumper turret and one hand line to extinguish the fire. Dorchester units, including the Sheriff's Office remained on the scene for several hours. The southbound lanes were reopened after a couple hours, but northbound remained closed for an extended time while cleanup crews mitigated the site, then removed the remains of the truck. No injuries were reported.
Colleton County Sheriff's Office, SC Highway Patrol, Dorchester County Sheriff' Office, State Transport Police, St. George Police Dept and SCDOT handled traffic control and detours. Dorchester County EMS had two units at the scene.
