As with many things, news reports often only capture part of the story.

A back brake fire on a tanker truck carrying milled zinc oxide, a flammable liquid, south on the NY Thruway set into motion a night of action for many Suffern residents and those rescue agencies that serve them. The tanker reportedly carried some 4000 to 6000 gallons of the liquid.

The Hillburn Fire Department responded to the call at approximately 1:37 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 23, along with the Suffern Fire Department. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to the incident with a pumper truck at 1:50 a.m.

And the skies answered the call as well with an overnight deluge that lasted until after 3 a.m.

In all, agencies from all across Rockland County responded to the tanker fire incident, from the Suffern and Ramapo Police Departments to the NY State Police to local and county fire and emergency medical services, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and other mutual aid and hazmat companies. Altogether some 60 firefighters responded to the Thruway incident.

Although the tanker flames were promptly put out and no hazardous material was released, Suffern Fire Chief Mike Stark opted to evacuate 40 homes along Rt. 202 as a precautionary move, especially those below the Thruway along Wayne Avenue. The residents congregated at the Suffern Community Center until the early morning hours while emergency personnel closed portions of the Thruway and cleaned up the incident.

While rain poured from the sky and most other people slept, the local fire and emergency personnel once again answered the bell, flying out into the night.

Meanwhile, back at the Hillburn fire house another crew was up and active and on duty. The Hillburn FD Ladies Auxiliary answered the bell as well, making sandwiches and acting as support for Hillburn fire personnel who would end up being on call for nearly seven hours.

The same with the Sloatsburg Fire Department, as fire fighters worked with other area crews at the Thruway, other firemen stood watch at the fire house, monitoring the situation.

Most rescue and police units rolled back to their home bases in the early daylight hours Tuesday morning, after a full night of routine action patrolling the NY Thruway.

So, when you hear that alarm sound just when you’re getting comfortable, remember that someone out there is swinging into action. And behind the scenes, perhaps back in the kitchen on food and kids watch, there might be a whole other support crew just clocking in for volunteer service.

Images courtesy of the NY State Police, Khurran Saeed from The Journal Newsand the Hillburn Ladies Auxiliary.