A tanker truck carrying methanol caught fire on US Highway 421 Sunday, triggering an active emergency response and road closures in Sampson County.
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Officials confirmed before noon Sunday that there has been no release of hazardous materials from the tanker. The fire happened near Bestwood Lane. Residents living on Perry Drive, Virginia Drive, and Kilby Drive near Clinton were evacuated and are still prohibited from returning home, according to Sampson County Emergency Services.
The continued evacuation for those three communities is being enforced out of an abundance of caution. Officials said residents must remain out of the area until crews can safely remove the gas from the trailer and move it away from the scene. There has been no official release of the cause of the fire.
Displaced residents who remain under the active evacuation order can seek temporary shelter at the Taylors Bridge Fire Department, at 6825 Taylors Bridge Highway in Clinton.
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Emergency Management Coordinator Dawson McLamb urged all motorists to completely avoid the affected stretch of US 421 near Bestwood Lane and use alternate routes.
Additional updates about the cleanup and evacuation orders will be released through the Sampson County Emergency Services department.
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