News Release 571

DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO SCENE OF STOLEN TRUCK FIRE IN JACKSON COUNTY

Volume 35-571

Contact: Larry Archer

(For immediate release)

573-751-3807

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 5, 2007 -- Emergency responders from the Department of Natural Resources were called Tuesday to test pools of unknown chemicals found at the scene of a truck fire in Jackson County.

The department's Environmental Emergency Response section was called to test pools of unknown substances found at a scene where a fire had destroyed a stolen tractor-trailer. The truck was discovered near U.S. Highway 50 and Harris Road, Lake Lotawana.

An environmental emergency responder, dispatched from the department's Kansas City Regional Office, tested the unknown chemicals and found them to be non-hazardous, allowing local fire officials, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to continue their investigation of the truck's theft and destruction.

The Environmental Emergency Response unit is called to the scene of more than 300 emergencies each year, including fires, traffic accidents, leaking storage tanks and other incidents that could have a negative environmental impact. The department's 24-hour spill line receives more than 1,600 incident reports annually.

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the spill line at 573-634-2436. For more information contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3443, or visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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