Semitruck spills 40,000 pounds of Frank’s Hot Sauce across highway during brutal heatwave

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A semi-truck leaked 40,000 pounds of Frank’s RedHot hot sauce while driving through Ohio during a brutal heatwave last week.

The spicy substance began leaking Tuesday from the truck as it traveled north on Interstate 71 in northern Delaware County, where temperatures soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Local firefighters had to track down the truck as it left a red-hot streak in its path.

“Our crews were out on the highway trying to track it down and actually were able to follow the trail to the Pilot,” Berkshire, Sunbury, Trenton and Galena Fire Chief Chris Kovach told The Columbus Dispatch.

Fire crews notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency about the spill, and crews used containment pools and other hazmat materials to prevent the acidic sauce from entering any drains or causing any environmental issues, according to the report.

A semi-truck spilled 40,000 pounds of Frank’s RedHot hot sauce in Ohio last week during a major heatwave (BSTG Fire District)

Temperatures soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the incident (BSTG Fire District)

The trucking company responsible for the leak is arranging for a cleanup company to handle the spill, Kovach said.

The fire company shared a humorous post about the incident on Facebook, noting, “This is one of those careers where you never know what you’re going to encounter.”

“This evening, crews were called out to 71 for a semi leaking ‘something’. Ultimately, the semi got off the highway and to one of the truck stops,” the post continued. “The mystery fluid turned out to be a trailer full of 40,000 pounds of Frank’s Red Hot leaking!”

While Kovach acknowledged the humor in the hard-to-believe situation, he also noted that some cars may have been damaged as a result of the spill.

Environmental officials were called in to handle the spill (BSTG Fire District)

“A lot of people were shocked, and obviously they see a humorous side of it, but on the flip side of that is, there are some cars, a lot of vehicles that may have potentially been damaged,” Kovach said. “My understanding is this is very hard to clean off.”

One person noted in a local Ohio Facebook page that she had spent $30 on car washes and the hot sauce still stained her vehicle, according to the report.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol can issue a citation to the trucking company responsible for the leak, but it has not yet, Lieutenant Robert Curry told the Columbus Dispatch.

Drivers impacted by the hot sauce leak can seek compensation through their insurance, Curry said.