But it wasn’t.

Just six days prior to the July 3rd mishap, Owasso Fire Department completed OSU-FST’s HazMat Operations Refresher Training. According to Assistant Chief Mark Stuckey, all of the Owasso Fire Department operations personnel attended the one-day refresher course that Fire Service Training presented on three occasions, June 26-28.

Stuckey reports that one entire shift of Owasso fire fighters plus staff personnel—sixteen in all-- responded to the hazardous materials incident. All were participants of the hazmat refresher training. “The training helped our department to successfully operate on the scene today.”

The incident involved an overturned pressurized, 2,000 gallon tanker truck at 96 Street North and Highway 169. Stuckey says that the tank was not compromised, but product was venting from over the road vent. The tank was full of Argon, a cryogenic in liquid form.

“Our firefighters identified the product and all hazards associated with the product. The firefighters took steps to purge the tank by opening additional vents, with consultation of the truck owner.”

Proud of his firefighters’ performance to which he credits OSU Fire Service Training, Assistant Chief Stuckey, asserts that “this incident reaffirms the need for reoccurring training.”

FST Instructor Bob Billen, who led the three days of HazMat training in Owasso, concurs.

“We keep telling our emergency responder students that Small Town America is no longer immune to disasters involving hazardous materials.”