Safety inspections were carried out on the A947 Aberdeen to Banff road after fire erupted from an overturned tanker during a crash.
Fire crews received reports of the blaze near King Edward School at around 8.10am on Wednesday with the driver taken to hospital.
Emergency services and three appliances from Macduff, Turriff and Banff first attended and a heavy rescue and DIM (detection, identification and monitoring) unit were also called to the scene.
The road remained closed overnight into Thursday due to the extent of the work needed to make the road safe.
However, it has since reopened after safety inspections were carried out.
A total of nine crews helped to battle the blaze after the tanker, owned by Carntyne Transport, fell onto its side, with the front of it coming to rest half off the road.
The fire was quickly extinguished with hoses at the scene set up to cool the vehicle. Fire crews notified control it was under control at 5.10pm.
It is understood the vehicle was carrying whisky at the time. Bystanders have said you can still smell fumes of alcohol in the area today.
Road surface will continued to be monitored
The vehicle was recovered overnight and today council workers have been at the scene inspecting the road.
While patches of the road have been damaged from the fire, Aberdeenshire Council said the road remains in a “serviceable” condition.
It has since been reopened after it was deemed safe.
However, warning signs urging drivers to take care have been put in place and the condition will continue to be monitored over the next few days.
Roads Update
🟢A947 Banff to Turriff Road now open🟢@Aberdeenshire #abztravel— Aberdeenshire Roads (@AbshireRoads) February 16, 2023
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “The A947 at King Edward was re-opened today at midday with appropriate warning signs placed at the site.
“Aberdeenshire Council’s Roads Service carefully examined the road surface following yesterday’s incident and, while sections have been damaged by the heat of the fire, it remains in a serviceable condition, with drivers taking due care.
“The service will continue to monitor the condition over the coming days in case of any deterioration and will take appropriate action as required.”
Tanker hit a tree
One Macduff resident was on their way to work with their brother a few cars behind the tanker when it caught light on Wednesday.
“It went up like a fireball almost to start with and then it hit a tree, he was fully loaded in the morning,” he said.
“I phoned 999 and my brother ran to check the driver was out and he was just managing to climb out the front window. Then I think within about two minutes the whole cab had gone up in flames.
“You could see people didn’t know what to do with a tanker on fire they kept their distance.
“By then the fire brigade had just about arrived and they were trying to clear the site just because there was so much volatile or flammable liquid on board they were worried for people.
“(The fire) was sticking to the tanker but obviously there were concerns it would spread onto the back of the tanker but I think they got there with enough time to put it all out.
“It is quite shocking to see it in front of you, it’s quite something else. ”
Shock in local community
The crash happened just yards away from homes. However, none have been damaged in the incident.
Local residents witnessing the incident yesterday said they were “shocked and scared” at the scale of the emergency.
Photos published online show flames coming from the overturned tanker on the road near the school.
One local said: “I think I saw the driver being helped away to safety.
“Everyone looked on with shock. I hope the driver is ok.”
Another said: “I never saw the incident at first as I was so busy getting ready for work.
“I heard a big noise. I was really shocked to see fire crews tackling the large flames at the scene when I went to leave for work.”
King Edward School have been unaffected by the incident as they are on half-term.
Speaking on Wednesday, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were alerted at 8.10am on Wednesday February 15 to reports of a fire involving a large vehicle on the A947, near King Edward, Aberdeenshire.
“Operations control mobilised nine appliances to the scene, where firefighters were met by a fire which had taken hold of a tanker.
“Firefighters extinguished the fire and are currently working to make the area safe.”
Crews have extinguished the fire from the Carntyne Transport tanker and one patient has been transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 8.11am to attend an incident on the A947, near King Edward.
“An ambulance and two of our specialist operations response teams (SORT) were dispatched to the scene. One patient was transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”
A947 remained shut overnight
The A947 road was closed overnight between Banff and Turriff while works were ongoing to make the road safe.
Overnight diversions were announced online.
The Stagecoach Bluebird 35 service from Macduff to Aberdeen also faced delays as a result of the closure.
A police spokesman said: “Around 8.15am on WednesdayFebruary 15 police were called to the A947 near King Edward School, following a report of a tanker on fire.
“A 65-year-old man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.”
When contacted by the Press & Journal, Carntyne Transport declined to comment.
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