UPDATE: Hancock Fire Department offers update on June 24 fuel spill on US-41

This map shows the areas in Hancock that were evacuated today, June 24, because of the fuel spill caused by a gasoline tanker that tipped over near Santori's Corner on US-41 this morning. (Map courtesy Hancock Fire Department)

UPDATE: 9:46 p.m. Thursday, June 24: The Hancock Fire Department is lifting the evacuation order that was in place. Residents are encouraged to return home. The Western U.P. Health Department, with assistance from the Hancock Fire Department, provided printed guidance to residents who will be reoccupying their homes. Air monitoring will continue to take place over the coming days.

Beaches along the canal will remain closed until further notice.

Highway 41 will remain closed overnight into the morning. It is likely the highway will not be open for traffic until Saturday. Detours will remain in place through at least tomorrow morning. See Traffic Detours below.

Due to the petroleum release and the heavy equipment operating in the area, residents are still requested to avoid the area if possible.

The next briefing will come out tomorrow when more information is known.

The following article was posted earlier today:

HANCOCK -- The Hancock Fire Department, through the City of Hancock, has sent the following update on today's fuel spill, marked in blue on the map above.

Around 8 a.m. today, Thursday, June 24, a gasoline tanker tipped over at Santori’s Corner on US Highway 41 in west Hancock. The tanker immediately started spilling gasoline. It was carrying about 8,500 gallons. Currently, it is unknown how much spilled. There have been no injuries caused by the accident and spill. Drinking water has not been affected.

The spilled fuel can be seen here moving east along the Portage Canal toward the Portage Lift Bridge. (Photo courtesy Superior Search and Rescue) 

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD), working in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), issued a public health advisory for the Portage Canal and beaches near Houghton/Hancock due to the fuel spill that discharged into the Portage Canal in Houghton County.

Evacuations are in place in west Hancock from Santori’s Corner on South Lincoln Drive (Highway 41) to Michigan Street, Michigan Street up to Elm Street and down to the Jutila Center, and Minnesota and Ohio Streets between Ethel Avenue and Michigan Street. See above map. It is currently unknown when residents will be allowed to return to their homes. An update on that will be given later tonight if possible.

Traffic Detours: Through traffic is requested to use alternative routes, with northbound traffic asked to follow M-203 toward McLain State Park and southbound traffic asked to take Airport Park Road through Dollar Bay. This is especially true for tractor trailers. Local traffic is open, and White Street in Hancock is currently open to two-way traffic because of the incident. Traffic is not expected to return to normal until late tonight, at the soonest. There is a potential it will be closed overnight, possibly affecting the morning commute. [See traffic update above.]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and Region 8 Hazmat Team is on scene to advise on cleanup efforts. Various contractors are on site and on route for cleanup efforts.

Cleanup efforts at Santori's Corner on US-41 require the highway to be closed to through traffic. (Photo courtesy Superior Search and Rescue)

Due to the petroleum release and the heavy equipment operating in the area, residents are requested to avoid the area if possible.  

Updates as the day goes on and photos and videos from the scene will be posted to the City of Hancock Facebook page or can be found here.