Truck carrying hazard materials catches fire, forces New West residents to shelter in place

Police in New Westminster were forced to close McBride Avenue near the Patullo Bridge Thursday night after a truck carrying pool chemicals caught fire.

The New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) Hazardous Material team attended the scene and advised drivers to avoid the area.

Nearby residents were also urged to close their windows and shelter in place, as air quality in the area was severely affected.

In an update around 7:10 p.m., NWPD said the request to shelter in place was lifted, while the road remained closed as crews mopped up.

Deputy Fire Chief Brad Davie told 1130 NewsRadio they soon learned there was no public risk, but there was a chance the chemicals got into the local waterway.

“The crews then created the runoff from the fire, and there was some off-gassing, so they called in some technicians to identify the chemicals that were present,” Davie explained.

“There is a risk to the environment, but we have the runoff contained, so we’re waiting for the cleanup of the chemicals to prevent any of the chemicals going down the storm drains and affecting the rivers.”

Davie explained the fire began in the bed of the truck where the chemicals were being stored.

“I don’t know that the chemical started the fire, but there are some chemicals back in the cargo area where the fire was, and then that’s of course where the water was applied.”

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

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