- A tanker truck was leaking fuel near West Third Street and the Route 378 ramp
- Approximately 250 gallons leaked from the tanker truck
- Booms and pads were deployed to contain the spill and protect the Lehigh River
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A South Bethlehem intersection remained closed Wednesday afternoon as crews cleaned up a fuel spill from a leaking tanker truck.
The Bethlehem Fire Department was called at 10:38 a.m. to West Third Street and the ramp leading to Route 378 and the Hill-to-Hill Bridge.
Firefighters determined that a tanker had suffered a tear in its trailer, resulting in a leak of diesel fuel.
Preliminary estimates indicated about 250 gallons of fuel were released, according to the fire department.
Some of the leaked fuel made its way into a nearby storm drain. Crews deployed booms and absorbent pads to prevent the spill from reaching the nearby Lehigh River.
City officials in the afternoon said it could be several hours before the intersection is reopened.
“It is estimated that the area will continue to remain closed for several hours while product is offloaded from the vehicle and the street and sewer line is cleared of product,” the fire department said in a news release.
Responding to the spill were the Bethlehem Fire Department, Bethlehem Police Department, Bethlehem EMS, Bethlehem HazMat, and Bethlehem Public Works. They were assisted by the Lehigh County HazMat Team, Northampton County EMA, and specialists from the carrier's contracted environmental cleanup company, JNJ Environmental.
Representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection were also on-site, the fire department said.
