Diesel tanker truck catches fire near Dallas, evacuations ordered – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A small diesel fuel 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 truck noticed smoke coming from his engine while stopped at the intersection of Parkerville Road and Cockrell Hill Road.

The engine fire quickly spread to the cabin and then to the 5,000-gallon tank filled with diesel fuel.

The driver was able to escape without injury before the fire consumed the truck.

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 supplies of foam and called fire departments in nearby Dallas and Duncanville to help.

After more than two hours, the fire finally went out.

Southard said city officials used their reverse 911 system to alert about 700 residents living within a half-mile of the fire that they needed to evacuate. Southard said they expect to be able to allow residents back into neighborhoods around 6:30 p.m.

Southard said it will take some time to clean up after the fire. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the intersection.