A tanker truck hauling refrigerated liquid hydrogen tipped onto its side in Bellingham's Happy Valley neighborhood on Monday, prompting fire officials to evacuate homes and businesses within a 500-foot radius and cut power to the immediate area as crews worked at the scene. The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. near 30th Street and Taylor Avenue, according to the Bellingham Fire Department.
The tanker rolled while navigating a turn along Taylor Avenue between 32nd Street and Douglas Avenue. Bellingham Police identified the vehicle as a tanker carrying refrigerated liquid hydrogen, according to Whatcom News.
Why the Response Was So Aggressive
Despite the dramatic rollover, officials said the overturned tanker did not have an active leak, and HAZMAT crews and fire officials reported that no liquid hydrogen spill occurred during or after the crash, per Cascadia Daily News. Still, the precautions were severe given the potential hazards associated with the cargo.
Power was shut off in the immediate area. Local fire officials set a 500-foot evacuation buffer.
Multiple Agencies on Scene
Bellingham Fire and Police, Washington State Patrol, a hazardous materials team, Puget Sound Energy, and the Washington Department of Ecology all responded to the scene. Crews were then left waiting on a specialized resource from outside the area to help safely upright the tanker, officials said.
The closure forced the early shutdown of Joe's Gardens, a nursery adjacent to the crash site, Cascadia Daily News reported. Bellingham Police announced Taylor Avenue would remain closed for several hours between 32nd Street and Douglas Avenue, cutting off local traffic near the crash site, according to MyBellinghamNow. The fire department asked people to avoid the area while crews continued working, according to KOMO News.
