Texas authorities respond to radioactive material fire on state highway

Texas Authorities Respond to Radioactive Material Fire on State Highway

Posted by
1 min read
July 29, 2024

AUSTIN, TX—A significant emergency response unfolded on Friday evening when a truck carrying radioactive materials caught fire along State Highway 329 near Rankin, Texas. The incident involved a semi-trailer transporting UN3332, a substance containing Cesium-137, known for its serious health risks.

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Radiation/Nuclear Detection Unit, Upton County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Transportation, and other local agencies quickly responded to the scene after the fire broke out around 7:45 p.m. The area was immediately secured, and the highway was closed to manage the situation and prevent public exposure to potential radiation.

DPS Corporal Scott Keane utilized a vehicle-mounted radiation detection system to assess the area, confirming it was free of radiation hazards. Further safety measures included radiation contamination surveys conducted by Corporal Keane and Corporal Dustin Henderson on first responders at the scene.

The situation was declared safe after thorough checks, allowing the responsible company to retrieve the semi-trailer and safely transport the hazardous material back to their facility. The highway was reopened later that night at around 11 p.m., marking the end of the emergency operations.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version