Evacuation order ends after fuel spill

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) - The evacuation order that forced 40 people in Attleboro's Read St. neighborhood out of their homes Thursday morning has now been lifted. Those people were told to leave after a tanker carrying aviation fuel rolled over Thursday morning on nearby Route 95.

By noontime, HAZMAT crews had drained most of the 11,000 gallons of fuel from the tanker. However, until they got the fumes out, officials said the tanker was basically a large bomb.

When ordered out of their homes Thursday morning, a few evacuees ended up at the South Attleboro fire station before heading to work, or to the homes of family members.

"Attleboro, as far as I'm concerned, is prepared to the max," said George Ross, Chairman of the City Council's Fire and Safety Committee.

Ross lives right near the evacuated area. And although he says he feels bad about the inconvenience, he knows his friends are in good hands.

"They're my friends too. You never want to see anything happen to your friends. But, these guys have done an excellent job. I didn't believe for a moment that there would be a major catastrophe, because I knew [the crews] could handle it."

Ross said Attleboro's emergency crews have drilled extensively in disaster response, especially because the railroad runs through the city.