A bit before 10 on December 24th, Black River Falls Fire Department and Black River Emergency Medical Service were dispatched by the Jackson County Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC) to Highway 54 East and Koranda Road in the township of Brockway for a semi crash with diesel fuel on the road way.
On arrival the department found a semi tractor and trailer lying on its side across both lanes of Highway 54. The driver had exited the tractor and was reporting no injury. Black River EMS was cancelled. The cargo in the trailer was wooden parts for pallet construction.
Diesel fuel was leaking from the fuel two tanks on the tractor. The driver advised that both 150 gallon tanks had just been filled. The department built a dike to contain the leaking fuel with floor dri material and sand brought to the scene by the Jackson County Highway Department. The department also place clamps on the fuel line to stop the leaking fuel. Most all of the 300 gallons of diesel fuel did leak from the tanks.
The spill was reported to the Wisconsin DNR as the fuel did run off the roadway and into the mineral soil and a wet land area.
Seven firefighters and two units were on the scene for four hours. The highway remained closed most of the day and traffic diverted while clean up efforts continued.
