Friday, Febraury 13, 2004

City’s public safety staff commended for handling of fuel spill

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizennews.com

The City of Fairburn Police Department and Fire Department were commended Monday night at the City Council’s regular meeting for their handling of a fuel spill. The accident happened around 4 a.m. at the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 and Oakley Industrial Boulevard Feb. 5.

The driver of the 9,000 gallon diesel tanker and two witnesses stated that a small red truck ran the red light. In an attempt to avoid the truck the Greene Oil Company tanker turned over and landed on its side spilling approximately 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel. The spill entered two storm drains and a creek on property adjoining the Greene Oil Truck Stop.

Fire Station 21 dispatched two trucks to the scene just before 5 a.m.

Captain Joey Highnote assumed the command of the situation requesting Fairburn Police to divert the early morning traffic. The EPA and the EPD were notified. Batallion One Chief Joey Daniels arrived around 5:10 a.m. and took command of the sight.

MVIC, Inc., an environmental cleanup company, arrived about one hour after being called to start the cleanup process. Containment dams were setup downstream of the spill with the assistance of the Peachtree HazMat Team.

According to a memo from Fire Marshall Walt Brown, approximately 4,000 gallons of water from fire hydrants were used to push the fuel to the dams where it was skimmed using vacuum trucks. Brown stated that even though an unfortunate accident happened, it could have been much worse and commended his staff for the professional way it was handled.