On Tuesday, April 3, 2001, Eden Fire Company No. 1 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, encountered an incident personnel had feared would occur for more than a decade. A gasoline tanker overturned on a limited-access highway interchange ramp and burst into flames. Free-flowing burning product threatened dozens of townhouses and residents in the middle of the night. Quick fire department response and favorable incident circumstances helped avert a disaster.
The incident occurred on an interchange ramp from U.S. Route 30 east to U.S. Route 222 north in Manheim Township. U.S. Route 30 is the primary east/west transportation corridor through Lancaster County and carries nearly 100,000 vehicles daily. U.S. Route 222 is the primary limited access north/south corridor that leads to and from the heavily traveled Pennsylvania turnpike. The highway was built in the 1960s and was modified in 1999.
Bordering the ramp is the Grandview Chase townhouse complex, built in 1990. The townhouses are of wood-frame construction. Each townhouse building is made up of between six and 12 three-bedroom units. Most are two stories with a loft or attic; others have basements.
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