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Idaho State Police
Region 5 5205 South 5th Ave.
Pocatello, Idaho 83204-2299
(208) 236-6466 FAX: (208) 236-6068
For Immediate Release: 07/14/2011 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Trooper B. Barnes
On July 14, 2011 at 11:40 a.m. , Idaho State Police investigated a truck fire on US30 just east of Lava Hot Springs. The driver of the Hanson Oil Company tanker truck, Ronnie Lindstrom, 64 of Soda Springs, told police that he was eastbound on US30 starting up the Fish Creek Hill when the truck started having mechanical problems. Lindstrom pulled the truck over and saw flames coming from under the hood. Lindstrom tried unsuccessfully to stop the flames and the entire tractor and part of the attached tank were destroyed.
Fire engines from the cities of Lava Hot Springs, Arimo, McCammon, and Inkom, as well as the Bureau of Land Management, arrived on scene to extinguish the fire and save the remainder of the first tank. The towed tanker trailer was not damaged by the fire. Both tanks contained approximately 4,000 gallons of oil and no oil spilled out of the tanks during the incident.
US30 was blocked for over four hours and traffic was diverted onto Blazer Highway around the fire.
Idaho State Police was assisted at the scene by Bannock County and Caribou County Sheriff's Office, Idaho Transportation Department, and Idaho Forrest Service.
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