A fire that began at M & A Tire Shop in La Vergne yesterday afternoon has led to a road closure and a full-scale HAZMAT response. According to WSMV4, emergency crews arrived on the scene to find a vehicle ablaze beside the shop at 208 Stones River Road, with the fire spreading to a part of the building. The situation escalated when a container holding motor oil was compromised, leading to a spill that extended to the adjacent roadway and down a storm drain. WSMV4 reported that the fire was extinguished and efforts transitioned to mitigating the contamination.
The La Vergne Police Department shut down Stones River Road at the Murfreesboro Road intersection to facilitate the cleanup operation and rerouting of traffic. "We ask drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. An update will be provided as soon as the roadway is reopened. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as first responders work to manage the situation," an LVPD statement said, as noted by WSMV4. The section of Stones River Road has since reopened, as per WKRN.
As the motor oil spill posed a significant environmental hazard, specialist HAZMAT teams were called to the scene. WGNS NewsRadio outlined that these teams quickly deployed absorbent booms and pads to control the spread of the oil, as well as utilizing specific equipment to evaluate the magnitude of the pollution. The collected oil and materials were deemed hazardous waste and were removed for appropriate disposal. With environmental experts emphasizing the serious implications of such spills, one quart of motor oil potentially contaminating up to 250,000 gallons of water, the prompt and coordinated response exemplified the gravity of the incident. More information on the environmental impact is anticipated in a TEMA report soon to come.
While no injuries were reported during the fire or the subsequent cleanup, the incident did lead to an extended emergency response. Multiple agencies, including the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Rutherford County EMA, and local stormwater management teams, collaborated on efforts to minimize environmental damage. The coordination extended well into the night until La Vergne Fire-Rescue deemed the site and surrounding waterways safe. As the community of La Vergne awaits further details, updates are expected to continue from both local officials and environmental experts on the status of cleanup and future preventative measures, as mentioned by WGNS NewsRadio.
