HAZMAT Incident Report: Storm Center Updates for East Providence, RI – 57 Ivan Ave Cody Rooney – Public Safety & Emergency Response (11 Years)

Rhode Island emergency crews responded to a hazardous materials incident in East Providence on Monday morning, February 16, 2026, following a report of a free-flowing release of home heating oil from a residential tank.

The incident occurred at 57 Ivan Avenue in East Providence, where hazmat units were dispatched after a tank began leaking approximately 275 gallons of home heating oil. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) coordinates responses to such events through its State Emergency Response Teams, which include specialized Hazardous Materials and Mass Decontamination Units trained to handle chemical spills and related emergencies.

Response and Agency Involvement

Crews from the Rhode Island Hazardous Materials and Mass Decontamination Team were requested to the scene to manage the release. This team consists of six Hazardous Material Teams located in Cranston, East Providence, Hope Valley, Providence, Warwick, and Woonsocket, along with four Decontamination Teams based in Hopkins Hill, Kingston, North Kingstown, and North Providence. These units operate under RIEMA’s framework, which integrates with federal, state, and local emergency organizations using the National Response Framework to protect public health and safety during man-made and natural disasters.

RIEMA’s State Emergency Response Teams are activated for incidents including hazardous material releases, power failures, terrorism threats, and severe weather events such as hurricanes and floods. Many team members are volunteers or affiliated with 501(c)(3) organizations, and they have previously supported responses to major events including Hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and Sandy, the Rhode Island Floods of 2010, chemical spills, white powder incidents, and medical assistance operations.

The Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force, which includes the East Bay Heavy Rescue Squad (Middletown, Newport, and Portsmouth Fire Departments) and the West Bay Heavy Rescue Squad (Warwick Fire Department), may also be deployed in conjunction with hazmat teams during complex emergencies requiring urban search and rescue capabilities.