Axton Road Incident
(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)


Front view of wreck scene. Cleanup workers can be seen drilling fuel tanks.
Taken by: Paul O'Brien, Ecology
Date: 05/16/02

Summary Information 

Date of Incident:  
May 16, 2002  about 8:55am

Location:  
1400 West Axton Road, Ferndale

Product/Quantity:  
Gasoline, 700 gallons

Cause:  
Tanker Truck accident, the reason for the accident is still under investigation.

Responsible Party:  
Mid Mac Enterprises
Bellingham, WA
 

News Items

  • Bellingham Herald
    May 23
    (Link removed)

  • Bellingham Herald
    May 21
    (Link removed)

  • Seattle PI
    May 17

  • Bellingham Herald
    May 17
    (Link removed)

  • King 5
    May 16
    (Link removed)

  • Media Inquiries can be directed to Larry Altose (425) 649-7009

Photographs

Maps/Drawings

  

Last Update 5/23/02, 3:30 p.m.

The spill site has been sampled and evaluated by a consultant and the UC has decided that it is safe to excavate.

As early as today a backhoe will begin to remove material from an area approximately 14 by 40 feet and 14 feet deep. This is rubble-like material that supports a driveway off the road to a private home. The project will prevent the residents from using their driveway, but arrangements have been make to make a path from an adjoining property, where the residents can park their vehicles. There were 35 to 40 cubic yards of material removed last week initially until they hit the larger material. There are another 350 yards (approx.) of material to be removed. Removal should be complete this week. Clean material will be brought in to re-build the driveway fill structure next week. There also are drainage pond-like areas on either side of the driveway that are being treated and cleaned up. The stream still has two underflow dams and crews continue to work with boom and absorbent pads. There is no longer sheen, so the stream activities are precautionary at this point.

There is a Ski to Sea race along this road over the coming weekend, and the open excavation site will be secured with a barrier of large cement blocks (ecology blocks).

Initial Summary 5/16/02

About 100 homes  were evacuated Thursday morning after a semi-tanker containing 8,000 gallons of gasoline overturned east of I-5 near Ferndale in Whatcom County, Wash.

The truck overturned into a 25- to 30-foot deep ravine around 8:55 a.m. Thursday at East Main Street, where it turns into Axton Road, about 1/2 mile east of Interstate 5.