Interstate closed as Interstate 95 overpass collapses in Philadelphia due to vehicle fire
A massive vehicle fire under a freeway overpass in Philadelphia early Sunday caused a portion of Interstate 95 to collapse, blocking traffic in both directions, officials said.
Investigations are currently underway to determine how the large-scale fire started in the first place. The incident occurred just before 6:30 a.m. ET and began a multi-agency response by law enforcement and fire officials, but at the time police spoke to the fire station, the type of vehicle involved in the blaze was unknown. had not yet been identified. Press conference After several hours.
Fire officials said they initially used a hazmat box as a precaution when they set out to fight the blaze, as they were unsure if the blaze had started in a tanker truck, and the blaze caused black smoke to rise above Philadelphia. . So far, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries related to the fires or the collapse of the interstate, and officials do not believe there were any vehicles involved or anyone in them.
Early Sunday morning, flames were seen billowing from the road, and a portion of Interstate 95 remained closed in both directions after the fire was extinguished. CBS Philadelphia reported that the closure spanned a two-mile radius from Allegheny and Castor streets to Academy and Linden streets.
Matt Bo
Adjacent to a collapsed northbound overpass, officials said the southbound side was “endangered” by the excessive heat of the blaze, city managing director Tumar Alexander told CBS Philadelphia. “Interstate 95 will be affected for a long time,” he said. for a long time. “
“This morning, a large fire broke out under Interstate 95 near the Cotman Avenue exit in northeast Philadelphia, causing part of the highway to collapse. We closed Interstate 95 in both directions,” said Police spokeswoman Sarah Peterson. The city of Philadelphia said in a statement to CBS News. “The fire is under control, and city and state officials are responding to the impact of the closure on residents and travelers in affected areas. Details will be shared as they become available.”
Philadelphia, state-level and Washington, D.C. government leaders said they were monitoring the situation and would coordinate plans to rebuild the highway.
admit the collapse TweetPhiladelphia Mayor Jim Kenny urged the public to “avoid the area and plan alternative travel routes.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Said He had already been in touch with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and partners at the Federal Highway Administration.
“We are closely monitoring the fire and collapse of Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania,” Buttigieg tweeted. “I have reached out to FHWA and asked Governor Shapiro to provide whatever assistance USDOT can provide for recovery and reconstruction.”
“The president has been briefed on the collapse, and White House officials are contacting the offices of Governor Shapiro and Mayor Kenny to offer assistance,” said White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre. . tweeted.
National Transportation Safety Board Said In coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, a team was dispatched to conduct a safety investigation into the fire and overpass collapse.
I-95 is a major interstate highway that runs along the east coast of the United States from Miami to the Canadian border in Maine. CBS Philadelphia, citing federal traffic records, reported an average of about 125,000 vehicles per day on the section that collapsed on Sunday.
While disrupting traffic, the fire and ensuing road collapse have raised widespread environmental concerns, in part because chemical emissions from fires are impacting local air quality.a “Code Orange” — A warning that the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with certain pre-existing medical conditions — as a result of both chemical releases and ongoing smoke seepage from wildfires , issued to the area of southwestern Pennsylvania. Eastern Canada.
The U.S. Coast Guard is also monitoring a possible leak of 8,500 gallons of vehicle fuel into the nearby Delaware River.
“The tanker certainly may have spilled 8,500 gallons of gasoline, but most of it is on shore,” the Coast Guard said in a statement to CBS News Sunday afternoon. By coastal, the statement said the gas was leaking primarily on land, with the latest reports showing it was “confined to coves” under the overpass.
The statement went on to say that “most of it is at the site and is running into storm sewers”, noting that “there was also a leak into the water”.
“But not enough to have a significant impact on the environment there,” the Coast Guard said. “We’re waiting to hear back from Coast Guard pollution response personnel on the scene. Normally, small amounts in the water will dissipate on their own.”
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Heavy vehicle fire destroys part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia; state police stand guard
Heavy vehicle fire destroys part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia; state police stand guard
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A massive vehicle fire under a freeway overpass in Philadelphia early Sunday caused a portion of Interstate 95 to collapse, blocking traffic in both directions, officials said.
Investigations are currently underway to determine how the large-scale fire started in the first place. The incident occurred just before 6:30 a.m. ET and began a multi-agency response by law enforcement and fire officials, but at the time police spoke to the fire station, the type of vehicle involved in the blaze was unknown. had not yet been identified. Press conference After several hours. Fire officials said they initially used a hazmat box as a precaution when they set out to fight the blaze, as they were unsure if the blaze had started in a tanker truck, and the blaze caused black smoke to rise above Philadelphia. . So far, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries related to the fires or the collapse of the interstate, and officials do not believe there were any vehicles involved or anyone in them.Early Sunday morning, flames were seen billowing from the road, and a portion of Interstate 95 remained closed in both directions after the fire was extinguished. CBS Philadelphia reported that the closure spanned a two-mile radius from Allegheny and Castor streets to Academy and Linden streets.
A section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia collapsed Sunday morning after a vehicle fire broke out under an overpass.
Matt Bo
Adjacent to a collapsed northbound overpass, officials said the southbound side was “endangered” by the excessive heat of the blaze, city managing director Tumar Alexander told CBS Philadelphia. “Interstate 95 will be affected for a long time,” he said. for a long time. ”
“This morning, a large fire broke out under Interstate 95 near the Cotman Avenue exit in northeast Philadelphia, causing part of the highway to collapse. We closed Interstate 95 in both directions,” said Police spokeswoman Sarah Peterson. The city of Philadelphia said in a statement to CBS News. “The fire is under control, and city and state officials are responding to the impact of the closure on residents and travelers in affected areas. Details will be shared as they become available.” Philadelphia, state-level and Washington, D.C. government leaders said they were monitoring the situation and would coordinate plans to rebuild the highway.
admit the collapse TweetPhiladelphia Mayor Jim Kenny urged the public to “avoid the area and plan alternative travel routes.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Said He had already been in touch with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and partners at the Federal Highway Administration.”We are closely monitoring the fire and collapse of Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania,” Buttigieg tweeted. “I have reached out to FHWA and asked Governor Shapiro to provide whatever assistance USDOT can provide for recovery and reconstruction.””The president has been briefed on the collapse, and White House officials are contacting the offices of Governor Shapiro and Mayor Kenny to offer assistance,” said White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre. . tweeted.National Transportation Safety Board Said In coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, a team was dispatched to conduct a safety investigation into the fire and overpass collapse.
I-95 is a major interstate highway that runs along the east coast of the United States from Miami to the Canadian border in Maine. CBS Philadelphia, citing federal traffic records, reported an average of about 125,000 vehicles per day on the section that collapsed on Sunday.While disrupting traffic, the fire and ensuing road collapse have raised widespread environmental concerns, in part because chemical emissions from fires are impacting local air quality.a “Code Orange” — A warning that the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with certain pre-existing medical conditions — as a result of both chemical releases and ongoing smoke seepage from wildfires , issued to the area of southwestern Pennsylvania. Eastern Canada.The U.S. Coast Guard is also monitoring a possible leak of 8,500 gallons of vehicle fuel into the nearby Delaware River.”The tanker certainly may have spilled 8,500 gallons of gasoline, but most of it is on shore,” the Coast Guard said in a statement to CBS News Sunday afternoon. By coastal, the statement said the gas was leaking primarily on land, with the latest reports showing it was “confined to coves” under the overpass.The statement went on to say that “most of it is at the site and is running into storm sewers”, noting that “there was also a leak into the water”.”But not enough to have a significant impact on the environment there,” the Coast Guard said. “We’re waiting to hear back from Coast Guard pollution response personnel on the scene. Normally, small amounts in the water will dissipate on their own.”
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/i-95-collapse-fire-philadelphia-interstate-overpass-road-closed/ Interstate closed as Interstate 95 overpass collapses in Philadelphia due to vehicle fire
