Highway Ramp Still Closed as Gas Cleanup Continues in Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — State and local authorities remain on the scene of a gasoline spill that dumped more than 2,500 gallons of fuel onto soil off an exit ramp of Interstate 91 Monday, prompting evacuation of a bordering neighborhood and fears about contamination in well water.

A Pride tanker truck carrying about 8,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over on Exit 49 southbound, causing the spill. Firefighters and police helped evacuate homes on Kalish Avenue, adjacent to the crash site, to facilitate cleanup efforts and water testing.

Kalish Avenue resident Karen McGuire said she arrived home Monday to find the street had been evacuated.

"As we pulled down Enfield Street, all we could see was fire trucks and police. We pulled into Bernardino Avenue and the police stopped us and asked where we lived. He then told us that our street had been evacuated and what had happened. Our house was the last one in the evacuation zone, so the officer said it was up to us if we wanted to stay or leave. We stayed outside with the officer until we were given the all clear for everyone except the first three houses."

Most residents of the street were allowed to return to their homes by mid-afternoon Tuesday, Police Chief Alaric Fox said.

Several homes on the street have wells, prompting the contamination concern. Officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) have been on the scene for nearly 48 hours, along with firefighters and police.

Early Wednesday afternoon, McGuire said, "We just got the all clear from DEEP on the wells. They have installed wells and will monitor the water for a while so that's good news. I feel bad for our neighbors behind the crash. Those three houses had it far worse than the rest of us."

DEEP officials said they expect soil excavation work to be completed Wednesday night, estimating the highway ramp may re-open around 10 p.m.

Photo credit: Mia Jensen