Queens +Tanker Explosion/Level 3+

Queens +Tanker Explosion/ Level 3+ Eastbound of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway near Roosevelt Avenue/Temporary bridge heading towards the Triborough Bridge, a MVA involving a gasoline tanker truck carrying 8000 gallons gasoline onboard, is on its side after hitting the overpass and is now fully involved, signal 10-86 transmitted.

U/D: 12:15
NYPD Highway-3 to shut down B.Q.E. on both directions, and all vehicles on the highway to be backed off.
also did the temporary bridge partially collapsed.

U/D 12:26
Command post has been set up on Roosevelt Avenue and 70th Street, 2nd Alarm has been issued.

Gasoline is entering the sewer system, several manholes are issuing smoke, and a large column of smoke is visible for miles.

Driver did make it out alive from the truck before it burst into flames, and all construction workers on the expressway have been accounted for.

U/D: 12:31
Aviation is setting up a landing zone at the B.Q.E., Aviation-15 to respond.

Train traffic from the #7 line and Amtrak lines in the area is shut down from Queens Blvd. to Main Street in Flushing.

U/D: 12:35
PD are calling for a level 3 mobilization.

U/D: 12:36
FD on the scene, are getting the fire under control ATT, Purple K unit is enroute to the scene, and BAT 35 is enroute to Floyd Bennet Field for Air Racon operations.

U/D: 12:45
Traffic in the area is gridlock.

U/D: 12:59
Main body of fire, has been K/D, T/L 163 applying foam from above, fire remains D/W/H.

U/D: 13:09
FD are requesting heavy equipment, due to heavy timbers and structural members that have fallen on top of the tanker from the collapsed temporary bridge, O.E.M. is in process of getting the heavy equipment needed.

U/D: 20:48
O.E.M. On the scene working now when the tanker got fully involved again in fire, FD are using foam, train services are stop'd.

U/D: 01/17/06 05:27
Expressway has just been reopened.