HOOSICK -- State officials surveying the scene of a massive fire caused by the rollover of a tractor-trailer hauling 10,000 gallons of propane told Rensselaer County emergency responders it could be as long as three days before a portion of Route 7 reopens and the truck has been sufficiently dosed.

Dozens of fire companies throughout the county were working in shifts, pouring water from fire tanker trucks that carry from 1,000-to-3,000-gallons, as well as drawing water from a nearby creek.

The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. near the Man of Kent Tavern at 4552 Route 7, west of the intersection with Route 22.

Volunteer firefighters went door-to-door to about 100 homes and businesses to order people to evacuate for their safety. It was feared the truck could explode sending up a ball of fire and metal fragments.

By 9 p.m. Monday, one of the shelters, the First Baptist Church of Hoosick on South Street, was all set with cots and snacks but no people. Pastor Dale Hall and Red Cross volunteers Mike and Judy Rancourt of Hoosick and Willard Dreisbach of Schodack Landing speculated many residents have family living close by and more than likely went there.

Paul Hand, assistant chief of the town of Hoosick Fire Department, which was in charge of the operation, was on a break at the fire house Monday night, along with volunteers from his company and the Hoosick Falls department.

After getting food and rest, they would return to the scene and relieve another company. Firefighters would be at the scene overnight "trying to keep the truck cool," Hand said.

"The whole county is involved one way or another," he said, explaining many of the 43 volunteer fire companies and ambulance squads were rotating at the fire while others were on standby to handle other emergencies in the county.

The propane truck was headed east on Route 7 when it ran off the road and crashed, knocking out electric power to some places in the surrounding area, the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office said. The tanker truck is owned and operated by Venezia Hauling, headquartered in Royersford, Pa.

The driver was airlifted by helicopter to Albany Medical Center Hospital, deputies said. The extent of the driver's injuries and his identity had not been made available as of 11 p.m. Monday. No one else was reported injured.

"This is a very rare occurrence," said Frank Venezia, the trucking company president, when reached at his office Monday. He said his company's safety director and other officials are at the accident scene.

"It's under control," Venezia said, regarding emergency services efforts to deal with the tanker.

Officials were worried that a "BLEVE" (pronounced "blevee"), which stands for boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, could occur, said Troy Fire Chief Thomas Garrett after returning from the scene. The Troy department houses and staffs the Rensselaer County hazmat Team, which was called to the accident scene.

If a BLEVE were to occur, the explosion could send the tank shooting off like a rocket and cause a fireball in the surrounding area, Garrett explained.

The Federal Aviation Administration placed flight restrictions around the fire scene at the request of local law enforcement, said Jim Peters, an FAA spokesman in New York City.

Aircraft were not allowed to fly below 3,000 feet within 5 miles of the accident scene.

Another shelters was set up at the Pittstown Ambulance Squad on Parker School Road in Johnsonville,

"The response from the community has been tremendous," said Shari Hand, a volunteer at the Hoosick Fire Company.

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Hand said almost a dozen local restaurants had donated food to the fire company, which had two rooms full of tables of untouched sandwiches, sodas, water bottles, pizzas and pasta trays by late Monday afternoon.

Route 7 is closed between Route 278 in Brunswick and Route 22 in Hoosick, and traffic is being detoured. The state Department of Transportation said those traveling east on Route 7 should take Route 278 to Route 2 then head east to Route 22, north to Route 356 then east to Route 95 and then north to reach Route 7 again.

Westbound traffic should take Route 95 south to Route 346 west to Route 22 south to Route 2 and head west on Route 2 to Route 278. Head north on Route 278 to Route 7.