Van fire in Crystal Lake Tuesday spawns hazmat response after fuel tank ruptures

No injuries were reported following a vehicle fire in Crystal Lake Tuesday that required a hazmat cleanup.

According to a news release, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue responded to the fire Tuesday on the southbound off-ramp of South Route 31 near the intersection of Northwest Highway to find a contractor van fully engulfed in flames.

The driver was on the scene and unharmed.

Before the fire could be extinguished, the van’s gasoline tank ruptured, causing about 30 gallons of burning gasoline to spill on the roadway and an adjacent grassy area.

The contractor company that owns the van was required to contact a hazmat spill company for the cleanup of the van’s gasoline and the foam used to extinguish it.

No gasoline or foam entered any waterway or sewer system, according the release. The offramp was closed for over six hours during the operation.