Community Corner

Update: Ammonia Hydroxide Spill Closes Route 309, Two Firefighters Treated

Six fire companies and a Montgomery County HAZMAT unit were on scene on Route 309 between Richardson Road and North Broad Street in Montgomery Township for an ammonia spill from a leaky drum on a tractor trailer.

For more than nine hours Thursday morning, Route 309 northbound in Montgomery Township was affected by an ammonia hydroxide spill from a tractor trailer.

Two firefighters were also treated for heat exhaustion.

Six fire crews cleaned up the HAZMAT incident, which closed Route 309 in both directions between Richardson Road and Mele Avenue until 5:30 a.m.

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Fire Department of Montgomery Township responded to Bethlehem Pike and Mele Avenue at 12:04 a.m. Thursday for a report of a vehicle leaking fuel, according to Rick Lesniak, director of fire services.

Around the same time, the Montgomery County 911 received reports of a tractor trailer leaking a corrosive liquid, Lesniak said.

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FDMT were assisted at the scene by Montgomery County HAZMAT, Colmar Fire CO., Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale, North Penn Vol. Fire Co., East Norriton Fire, Wissahickon Fire Co., Montgomery Township Police, Montgomery Township Public Works, Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale and the Department of Environmental Protection.

The leaking chemical was a heavy duty, biodegradable industrial cleaner called FireWash, Lesniak said. The leak was coming from a container inside the trailer.

Fire crews worked to divert the liquid from running into storm drains and Lewis Environmental was called to cleanup the roadway and truck, Lesniak said.

Cleanup required the use of sand and oil dry to absorb the liquid. Water was not used, Lesniak said.

Bethlehem Pike reopened at 5:30 a.m. with the right lane closed northbound as cleanup continued, he said.

Original Updates Below

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Update 9:45 a.m.

The right lane of northbound Route 309 remains closed between Richardson Road and Montgomery Office Plaza. Lewis Environmental on scene for cleanup.

Ammonia hydroxide residue visible on roadway. White foamy substance visible on Route 309 between Five Points and Richardson Road.

Update 5:00 a.m.

309 has been reopened in both directions.

Update 3:00 a.m.

Fire officials report running water on southbound side of Route 309 is clear. Northbound side of Route 309 is clear. A creek off Line Street near Route 309 is also clear of chemicals.

Update 2:30 a.m.

Firefighter rehab and EMS are requested to move from the north side of Route 309 and set up at Heritage Business Park.

Update, 2:15 a.m.

Dam absorbent is saturated and will be reinforced further, per Montgomery County radio reports.

PennDOT has been contacted to provide a sand truck.

Additional absorbents have been requested by officials. A last resort, according to one fire official, is to pull mulch out of a nearby garden bed for absorbent.  

Update, 2:05 a.m.

Fairmount Fire Co. crews have been sent in to check the integrity of a dam and if it requires more reinforcement.

Update, 1:50 a.m.

A second firefighter needs treatment at the scene. It is reported this firefighter stepped in the chemical.

No additional manpower is needed. Most firefighters are taking a break to cool down.

Fire officials are reporting wind is blowing the chemical in their direction.

Fire command is staging at Bassett Furniture at Line Street and Bethlehem Pike.

Update, 1:30 a.m. Thursday

Six fire company crews are on scene Thursday morning at an ammonia hydroxide spill HAZMAT incident in Montgomery Township that has closed Route 309 in both directions between Richardson Road and North Broad Street.

The ammonia leak was from a drum being carried by a box truck, per county reports.

Ammonia hydroxide is considered a Class 8 Corrosive. Fire crews are ordering firefighters to be decontaminated prior to rehabilitating at the scene.

As of 1:30 a.m., the Department of Environmental Protection has been notified and will be in contact with Montgomery County HAZMAT.

A Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale ambulance has been called to the scene to check out one firefighter, per Montgomery County West radio. 

The firefighter is reported to be overheated and is cooling down and getting some fluids, per county radio.

Fire crews were in the process of making a larger dam to contain the chemical. A nearby drain has been blocked off.  

More fire personnel has been requested to the HAZMAT scene.  

A rehab personnel station has been set up at the Heritage Business Park at Richardson Road and Route 309. A second remote rehab station has been requested by officials.

Fire crews have requested four gas meters to test flammability levels of the chemical.

FDMT crew is at present in rehab on the site.

Fire companies on scene include Fire Department of Montgomery Township, Colmar Fire Co., North Penn Vol. Fire Co., Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale, Horsham Fire Co., Wissahickon Fire Co., Montgomery County HAZMAT and Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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