A small fuel spill, which is being attributed to a vehicle pulling away while still connected to a gas pump at a facility on Johnstonville Road, was quickly mitigated by emergency personnel Tuesday.
Around 7:00p.m. on August 28th, according to details released by Lassen Office of Emergency Services Chief Eric Ewing, fire personnel responded to a reported spill at the Ed Staub and Sons card lock on Johnstonville Road.
When they arrived on-scene fire personnel found fuel had spilled onto the concrete and asphalt area surrounding the pumps. Bystanders had reportedly activated the emergency fuel shut-off switch quickly, avoiding a much worse situation.
According to Chief Ewing, further investigation with site personnel determined about 53-gallons of gasoline, as indicated on the fuel pump, had leaked from a broken seal inside the pump.
About 15-gallons of gasoline had spilled on the concrete and asphalt apron surrounding the pump. The remaining 38-gallons were retained by the ‘catch basin’ under the pump.
The leak was cleaned with absorbent material from the site’s spill kit.
After further investigation it was determined the fill hose had separated at the ‘break-away’ coupling, and that a seal inside the pump was damaged. Personnel at the facility said that the failure was likely due to a vehicle attempting to drive away with the fill hose still attached.
The pump was placed out of service until proper repairs could be made.
