Emergency crews quickly contained a recent potentially hazardous fuel spill in Penhold.
Local firefighters were called to a fuel spill at the Centex gas station on Friday, Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m.
“A fuel truck was making a delivery and some of the diesel product spilled from its lines,” said Jim Pendergast, Penhold fire chief. “Penhold firefighters contained the leak and cleaned up the spill using absorbent material to soak up the diesel and then disposed of the material.”
No one was using the gas pumps at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, said Pendergast, adding it's the first fuel spill at that location and the first one in Penhold in several years.
“There was enough fuel spilled that it had to be reported to Environment Canada,” he said. “There was more than 40 litres spilled.”
A total of three fire units and one peace officer unit responded to the fuel spill. Crews were on scene for about an hour and were able to prevent any further mishaps.
“There were concerns that if (the diesel fuel) got into the storm sewers then it may have gone into the creek and ecosystem,” explained Pendergast. “We prevented that from happening as well.”
Traffic and business was disrupted for about an hour while the cleanup took place.
Pendergast said the service manager at the Centex station made the correct decision by calling 911.
Jim Pendergast, Penhold fire chief
"There were concerns that if (the diesel fuel) got into the storm sewers then it may have gone into the creek and ecosystem."
