Oil tanks topple in Epsom, spill into Suncook River
Posted: April 19th, 2007 :: Epsom Fire-Rescue
EPSOM – Nearly two days after being evacuated from their homes, residents of the Kingstowne Mobile Home Park returned yesterday morning to find flood waters had toppled their fuel tanks, spilling oil into their yards and into the Suncook River."This is a case where in a lot of the tanks, (the oil) already went down the river," said George Carrigan of the state's Department of Environmental Services "There's not too much we can do."
The Epsom Fire Department arrived at about 9 a.m. yesterday and quickly called for assistance from Pembroke and Chichester fire departments, along with DES.
The lower level of the park was cordoned off and residents had to leave their homes again while firefighters checked more than two dozen homes, set tanks upright and laid down absorbent pads to soak up the oil, which had mixed with silt and mud in people's yards.
Kingstowne is a neighborhood that extends from Route 28 downhill to the banks of the Suncook River. The area most affected was Queen's Lane, which runs parallel to the river. All of the homes on one side of the street overlook the river, some only feet away from the river's edge.
The Suncook River rose more than a foot higher than during the floods last May, said Steve Ludwick, an engineer with the Pembroke Fire Department.
About a dozen homes were seriously damaged in the flood, said Sted Holton, the manager at Kingstowne and residents are still assessing damages.
Dick Wright of the Capital Area Fire Compact, called the oil spill a "minimal amount," but couldn't estimate the total spillage.
Epsom fire Chief Stewart Yeaton said each home's tank can hold a maximum of 275 gallons, but each had varying amounts so it's difficult to estimate how much leaked.
"It smells worse than it really is," he said.
At noon, Yeaton said residents could return home.
DES has brought in CleanHarbors Environmental Services, a company that specializes in environmental and hazardous waste cleanup and disposal. The company will vacuum up the remaining oil.
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