Why would spilled milk need a hazardous materials team?

[Horse with no Name]

First of all, my condolences to the family of the driver killed in this horrific wreck, but growing up on a dairy I recall during the Reagan years milk trucks emptying their milk on the ground all over Texas when he regulated the price of milk but not the price of feed--dairy farmers dumped their milk instead of selling it.
However, this man was in a wreck that the milk truck overturned and caught on fire. Why would a milk spill need a hazardous materials team?
I wish I knew the answer. This one baffles me.
http://www.myssnews.com/news-telegram/news/1628-milk-truck-driver-dies-in-fiery-crash-monday.html
>>>snip
Pickton-Pine Forest, Hopkins County, Como and Winnsboro firefighters were dispatched to the location, along with Hopkins County Emergency Medical Services personnel, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and hazardous materials teams.

Firefighters battled the blaze but were unable to immediately get to the trapped driver. The blaze was extinguished at 4:13 p.m.

After the fire was out, firefighters used a rescue tool to cut the top of the cab off in order to remove the driver’s body from the truck.

The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Yvonne King. Hopkins County Precinct 2 workers were requested to bring a back-hoe to the location due to the spilled milk and damages. Dispatchers were also asked to notify state environmental officials about the spill.

[B o d i]

1. Because people were crying over it?

/first

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Either every spill...

gets a hazmat team called out there or the team was called for the diesel spilling out of the truck's fuel tanks.

[Lochloosa]

3. I agree. They were their for the diesel not the milk.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. As much as 100 gallons of diesel fuel in the saddle tanks.

Depending on when he filled up of course. That in itself constitutes a hazardous materials spill. The Haz-Mat team is probably on an automatic dispatch for any "tanker" accident when fire is involved. That would be a fairly standard practice.

David

[etherealtruth]

5. Was there a stream, a lake or any surface water in the vicinity?

A tanker of milk has the potential to severely disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

Though not an area that I work in (thinking back to school) I believe the storage and transport of large quantities of milk require Spill Prevention Plans (as does the transport or storage of petroleum products).

edit to add: any storm water catch basins in the area would also pose a potential to impact waterways and cause fish kills etc.

[Shiver]

7. But...but... milk does a body good!

[ogneopasno]

6. Fuel.