Watertown Diesel Tanker Fire Burns for 2½ Hours; Cause Under Investigation

4 hours ago

1 min read

Raging vehicle fire with thick black smoke on open ground; Northeast Radio SD and Watertown Fire Rescue logos visible.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A diesel tanker trailer burned for more than two hours Wednesday morning after Watertown Fire Rescue responded to a vehicle fire report north of 3rd Avenue NE and 31st Street NE.

Crews were dispatched at about 9:30 a.m. and arrived to find the tanker fully engulfed and producing heavy smoke, according to a Watertown Fire Rescue release. Firefighters secured the scene and evaluated hazards associated with the diesel fuel. Command staff ultimately decided to let the fuel burn to prevent runoff from entering Willow Creek, which officials said would have created a significantly more complex environmental situation.

Massive fire at an industrial site sends thick black smoke into the sky, with hoses and dirt mounds in the foreground.

Watertown Fire Rescue remained on scene to ensure the fire burned safely and did not threaten nearby property. The tanker, which had a 10,000-gallon capacity, contained an undetermined amount of fuel and burned for roughly two and a half hours.

Additional agencies assisting at the scene included the Codington County Sheriff’s Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Codington County Emergency Management.

Burning wreckage erupts in flames and thick black smoke on a barren airfield, with a green hose in the foreground.

Investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire. Watertown Fire Rescue apologized for any inconvenience caused by the smoke, noting that allowing the fuel to burn minimized contamination to soil and water. The department also thanked partner agencies for their assistance.