A small diesel tanker truck caught fire in DeSoto Friday afternoon, forcing firefighters to evacuate a nearby neighborhood.
DeSoto Fire Chief Bryan Southard said the driver of the tanker noticed smoke coming from her engine while stopped at the intersection of Parkerville Road and Cockrell Hill Road.
The engine fire soon spread into the cab and then toward the 5,000-gallon tank full of diesel fuel.
The driver was able to escape without injury before the fire consumed the truck.
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Southard said when firefighters arrived they had to use foam to put out the fire because water has little effect on flammable liquids. He said they exhausted their supply of foam and called in help from fire departments in nearby Dallas and Duncanville to assist.
After more than two hours, the fire finally burned out.
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Southard said city officials used their reverse 911 system to alert about 700 residents living within 800 meters of the fire that they needed to evacuate. All Hazards have been mitigated and residents have been allowed back into their homes.
Southard said it would take some time to clean up after the fire. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the intersection.
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