Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Dollar General Hazz Mat Release Contained, to be Sanctioned Officials Say

Published

3 years ago

August 31, 2023

Bristol Borough Fire Companies worked into the wee hours of Wednesday morning to contain a hazardous materials spill from impacting the surrounding community.

Just after 8pm, firefighters were dispatched to assist Station 52 with fumes resulting from chemicals being poured into a dumpster in the parking lot, of the 600 block of Bristol Pike, the Dollar General Store officials said.

The dispatch also came after a series of photos of spilled and leaking chemicals onto the stores parking lot and out of its dumpster were posted on social media.

Credit: Bristol Fire Company-Station 51

Fire officials said as fire crews arrived on scene, it was determined a “…a large amount of household laundry detergent and cleaners, were emptied into a large dumpster, and the dumpster was actively leaking” from the dumpster.

Dow Chemical and the Bucks County Hazardous Materials Team were also added for additional equipment and technical guidance on the actions required to safely mitigate the incident. The PA Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA were also notified, said Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack.

Firefighters immediately began to contain and absorb the liquid leaking from the dumpster and prevent additional liquid from entering the storm sewer which terminates into Silver Lake. The chemicals had the potential to harm the aquatic wildlife in the lake. The Borough provided a dump truck with two tons of sand which was used to sand and further contain and absorb the spill, fire officials said.

A limited amount of product did get into the storm sewer prior to the arrival of the fire companies, but was contained close to the spill site and away from discharging into the lake. The total amount of liquid was estimated to be 150-200 gallons of household cleaning supplies including bleach, laundry soap, fabric softener and other undetermined household liquids, Slack said.

Slack did not hesitate to lay blame for the public hazard.

The spill occurred when Dollar Store employees emptied containers of household cleaning liquids into the dumpster which was not liquid tight. When advised they were responsible for the clean-up, they declined to take any action, he said.

Credit: Bristol Fire Company Station 51

“The Borough is expected to take the necessary legal action to recoup the cost and issue citations for any violations of local laws and ordinances. State or Federal enforcement actions related to the spill will be determined by the appropriate government agencies” the Fire Chief said.

Crews remained on scene until 845 am the following morning (Wednesday) and the scene was turned over to an Environmental Cleanup Company.

Submitted:

The post this story is partly based upon was pulled down and or deleted after community based digital publications began to request additional information about the hazard and cleanup.

Station 50 Fire Chief Steve Reeves declined to comment on why the post was removed from the fire companies page.

Slack also declined to comment on the pulled fire company post.

All four Bristol Borough Fire Companies responded to this incident and were assisted by, the Bucks County Hazardous Materials Team, Dow Chemical Emergency Response, Bucks County EMA, Bristol Borough EMA, Bristol Borough Public Works, PA DEP, Bucks County 9-1-1 Dispatch and the Bensalem Rescue Squad, said Borough fire officials.

Credit: Bristol Borough Fire Company Station 51

Related Topics:Bristol Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack Dollar General to be Penalized officials Say Haz Mat Release Contained

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Cops: Motorist Driving “Erratically” on Street Rd Arrested for Fleeing, DUI

Published

2 days ago

March 3, 2026

Jeff Bohen

A Langhorne woman spent a day in jail after she fled Bensalem Police who observed her driving erratically on Street Road last month locating the vehicle and its owner, ironically on the same block of funeral home.

According to the probable cause filing, on Saturday, Feb. 28, at approximately 10:23 p.m. Police were on routine patrol in the area of 3000 Street Road when officers observed a sliver Ford Explorer bearing a Pennsylvania registration MHS-**** driving erratically. Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating lights and sirens.

The motorist, police said, fled west on Street Road at a high rate of speed.

Police in court papers said, the driver passed multiple vehicles on the right side and then ran through multiple steady red lights. Police lost track of the Explorer in the area of Street Road and Public Safety Way.

At approximately 11:35 p.m. police found the vehicle in the rear of 4737 East Street Road in Bensalem Twp.

Police initiated a second traffic stop by activating lights and sirens with back-up officers surrounding the Explorer so the motorist could not speed away again.

Police made contact with the driver and sole occupant, who was identified as 50 year-old Paige Holwood.

Holwood had bloodshot, glassy eyes, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her person which increased as she spoke. She was unsteady on her feet when she got out of the vehicle, according to coure papers.

Police came to the conclusion that she could not operate a motor vehicle safely, said the probable cause.

Holwood was transported back to Police Headquarters where she was read the implied consent form in its entirety and refused to submit to a blood test, the arresting officer said.

On-Call District Judge John T. Galloway arraigned Holwood in the early morning hours of Sunday on a felony charge of fleeing police, DUI and four related traffic offenses.

Galloway set bail at 10 percent of $25,000 and Holwood, unable to post bail, was remanded to County Jail. She paid the 10 percent on Monday and released. Holwood’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 26. Currently, she has no attorney of record, according to online court records.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Bensalem House Fire Kills One Woman, One Man Injured

Published

3 days ago

March 3, 2026

Jeff Bohen

A early morning Tuesday fire in Bensalem took the life of one woman and firefighters were able to rescue a man, community sources told Lower Bucks Source.

Bensalem fire companies were dispatched for the reports of a dwelling fire in the 2900 of Bellview Drive at around 2:45 a.m with possible entrapment.

Police officers on scene reported two residents were unaccounted for and believed to be inside. Fire crews initiated an aggressive quick search and attack of the fire, where a male was immediately located by the doorway, Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department, officials said.

The woman killed in the fire was located shortly thereafter, fire officials said.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home, officials said.

An on scene witness said they saw a man was taken to the hospital by Bensalem EMS. His condition is unknown as of publication time.

The identity of the woman killed in the blaze has not been released

The fire caused the closure of Bellview Dr, from Morrow Drive to the entrance of Faust Elementary for several hours.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation of the fire marshal’s office.

“The thoughts and prayers of our entire department go out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy. It’s a sad day for our Nottingham Village families” said Bensalem Volunteer Fire Dept officials.

Cops

Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Joanne Ames

Credit:: Veinna Carcel

Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.

A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.

Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.

Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.

Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.

Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.

Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.

Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.

Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.

Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.

Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.

Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.

Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.

Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.

Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.

Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.

The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.

Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.

Click here for updates from the National Weather Service

Click here for PECO’s outage map.