Tanker leaking Paraquat herbicide triggers multi-agency response
DORRIS — A tanker truck spill of a highly toxic herbicide shut down U.S. Highway 97 through Dorris Monday morning and prompted a shelter-in-place order for portions of the community, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol dispatch logs.
The incident was first reported at approximately 8:06 a.m. when a caller reported a possible hazardous spill near El Tapatio restaurant. Initial reports described the tanker as leaking a substance with an odor, with the spill covering the roadway on both sides and potentially running into gutters. A CHP unit estimated approximately 50 gallons had spilled, confined to the roadway with no drainage entry reported at that time.
CHP Officer 41-S3 assumed incident command and established a command post at the Dorris Agricultural Inspection Station at the south end of the spill. Northbound lanes were closed at the ag station, and southbound Highway 97 was shut down just north of Dorris Hill. By mid-morning, Caltrans District 2 reported the closure extended from 12 miles north of Weed to 2 miles south of the California-Oregon border.
The chemical was identified as Paraquat (Gramoxone), a restricted-use herbicide considered highly toxic and potentially fatal if inhaled or ingested.
At 10:20 a.m., the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office issued a formal shelter-in-place order covering two zones:
- DOR-4106 — East of Matthews Road, north of Richardson Road
- DOR-4112 — West of Dorris Brownell Road, north of Richardson Road
Residents in the affected zones were directed to turn off all air conditioning and HVAC systems, keep doors and windows closed, and avoid outdoor activities. Anyone believing they have been exposed was instructed to call 911 immediately.
Dispatch logs show a broad multi-agency response was coordinated throughout the morning. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Siskiyou County OES, Siskiyou County Public Health, Dorris Public Works, Caltrans, and the Siskiyou County Agricultural Commissioner’s office all responded or were contacted. Dorris Public Works blocked side streets within 800 feet of the spill location, and Caltrans changed changeable message signs to reflect the northbound closure.
A note in the dispatch log indicated that a backup vehicle carrying cleaning products had been caught in traffic near the scene and was later cleared from the area.
The briefing at the command post was not open to the public, per dispatch entries recorded shortly after 11 a.m. As of mid-morning, multiple units had cleared the scene, though the highway closure and shelter-in-place order remained in effect.
The incident is ongoing. Siskiyou News will update this report as additional information becomes available.
Sources: CHP CAD dispatch log, Caltrans District 2 social media, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office social media.
