At 12:20 a.m. Tuesday morning a Cleveland Police Officer notified the dispatcher that fire equipment was needed on US 59 northbound just south of the loop in Cleveland. He advised the tank truck was actively burning and was unsure what its contents were. Cleveland, Splendora, and New Caney Fire Department responded to the scene and remained back as it was still unknown of its contents. With flames rolling off the back of the tanker a decision was made to attempt to extinguish it. Within a short time that was accomplished, however, the rear axle, rear brakes, tires, and electrical were destroyed on the tanker.
Northbound US 59 was closed for almost an hour as the fire was extinguished. The northbound right lane will remain closed at least into daylight hours as the trailer has to be pumped off to another tanker. At that point, Smith Towing in Cleveland will remove the trailer from the freeway.
The truck was loaded with a Styrene monomer which is used to make foam mattresses. If styrene vapor ignites and the temperature of the liquid reaches 52ºC, the stabilizing effect of the inhibitor will be lost. There is then a serious risk that the liquid will auto-polymerize with the generation of considerable heat. Styrene tanks, which are heated by an external fire or other means pose a severe risk of bursting and explosion.
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