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OMG 2020 can just quit now. A tanker-car collision/fire near the Cuyahoga River in Akron this morning, spilled burning fuel into a storm sewer and then the river, so the river caught fire. First time in 50 years. F%&K. https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200825/cuyahoga-river-catches-fire-after-tanker-car-crash-closes-route-8-north-prompts-evacuations
There are some real, substantive differences between this small fire and the fires of 50+ years ago.
Today we have a clear point source of the fuel and fire making it into the otherwise nonflammable river in Akron.
Today we have a clear point source of the fuel and fire making it into the otherwise nonflammable river in Akron.
50+ years ago it was lots of point sources & non-point sources of pollution that made the river itself flammable (in Cleveland, near the mouth), and all it took was a sufficient spark.
The Cuyahoga burned more than once, as did other rivers in industrial cities in the US.
The Cuyahoga burned more than once, as did other rivers in industrial cities in the US.
The Cuyahoga's historical fires made it the #burningriver that "sparked" the environmental movement and both local grassroots and national efforts have led to dramatic improvements in water quality.
The Cuyahoga River still has some issues, but flammability isn't among them.
The Cuyahoga River still has some issues, but flammability isn't among them.
NE Ohio is justifiably proud of the rebirth of its rivers and its history of environmental work. And we should be.
Today's event reminds us that we need to keep those protections strong and not backslide on regulation. We need to fill the gaps we have, not widen them.
Today's event reminds us that we need to keep those protections strong and not backslide on regulation. We need to fill the gaps we have, not widen them.
River fires need to remain extraordinarily rare, small, easily-contained events that remind us of our history, not re-enact it.
And they should spur us to better manage stormwater and sewage, so that the river / roadway connection is indirect, not a pipeline for a blaze.
And they should spur us to better manage stormwater and sewage, so that the river / roadway connection is indirect, not a pipeline for a blaze.
This photo though...
[Photo by Cuyahoga Falls FD, via Akron Beacon Journal: https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200825/one-dead-in-fiery-route-8-north-crash-that-results-in-road-closures-evacuations-cuyahoga-river-fire]
![This photo though...[Photo by Cuyahoga Falls FD, via Akron Beacon Journal: https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200825/one-dead-in-fiery-route-8-north-crash-that-results-in-road-closures-evacuations-cuyahoga-river-fire]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgSeswQXsAI-prx.jpg "This photo though...[Photo by Cuyahoga Falls FD, via Akron Beacon Journal: https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200825/one-dead-in-fiery-route-8-north-crash-that-results-in-road-closures-evacuations-cuyahoga-river-fire]")
[Photo by Cuyahoga Falls FD, via Akron Beacon Journal: https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/20200825/one-dead-in-fiery-route-8-north-crash-that-results-in-road-closures-evacuations-cuyahoga-river-fire]
I edited and slightly expanded this thread as a blog post here: http://all-geo.org/highlyallochthonous/2020/08/the-cuyahoga-river-burned-today-for-the-first-time-in-51-years-heres-what-we-can-learn-from-it/
