A tanker truck believed to be carrying sulfuric acid caught fire Tuesday evening on the eastbound I-610 South Loop ramp to the Gulf Freeway, sending a thick plume of dark smoke over one of Houston’s busiest interchanges. Houston Fire Department hazmat crews rushed to the scene and worked to corral the flames. Officials reported no injuries and said the truck’s tank did not appear to have ruptured.
The blaze began around 7:08 p.m., and TranStar cameras showed flames licking up from the overpass, prompting a shutdown of all eastbound South Loop lanes at I-45, according to the Houston Chronicle. KHOU also reported Houston firefighters saying the tank had not ruptured and that there were no immediate environmental concerns. Drivers were warned to brace for major delays and find another way around while crews staged on the ramp.
What responders found
In a social media update, the Houston Fire Department said, “At this time, the tank has not ruptured, so there are no environmental concerns,” and confirmed that HFD hazmat units were on scene assessing the situation, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. Fire officials also urged motorists to steer clear of the South Loop and Gulf Freeway interchange while crews worked to cool and secure the tanker.
Traffic and cleanup
Crews eventually knocked down the fire and began transfer and cleanup operations, but the traffic pain did not disappear quite so fast. Recovery teams and hazmat specialists remained on the ramp, keeping lanes closed while they dealt with the load. The station reported that the tanker was carrying roughly 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of sulfuric acid and that another truck would be brought in to remove the product, with local law enforcement helping manage traffic control, per KPRC Click2Houston.
Why sulfuric acid matters
Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns on contact, along with serious respiratory damage if vapors or mists are inhaled, according to NIOSH. When a tanker carrying the chemical catches fire, hazmat teams have to assume that any heated or escaping liquid could become a health and environmental problem, which is why they rely on specialized transfer procedures, protective gear, and foam to keep the acid contained and responders safe.
What drivers should know
Officials asked drivers to avoid the South Loop / I-45 interchange while crews finish transferring the load and clearing the wreckage. Real-time traffic feeds from TranStar and local broadcasters continued to show slow or stopped traffic clogging the area, Click2Houston noted. Anyone headed toward the Gulf Freeway was urged to expect delays and map out alternate routes until the scene is fully cleared.
Context
Tanker incidents have repeatedly turned Houston freeways into gridlock. Coverage of a fatal tanker explosion in August highlighted how quickly a single truck can shut down major corridors for hours and trigger large-scale emergency responses. Those past scares are a big part of why hazmat-trained fire crews remain a priority presence on Houston’s busiest stretches of road, as reported by Hoodline.
