CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne Fire Rescue responded to a call about a fuel spill in the early hours on Sunday morning, for which responders came upon a spill of about 75–100 gallons of diesel fuel draining into the street’s gutter and toward the intersection of Vandehei Avenue and Evers Boulevard.
According to a release from Fire Rescue, the four responding vehicles and Cheyenne Street and Alley managed to quickly “contain, divert, and absorb the fuel before it spilled over into a nearby storm sewer drain.”
The cause of the incident was determined to be a driver who fell asleep while fueling. Normally, gas pumps are designed to automatically shut off when the purchasing car’s tank is full. This faulty pump, however, failed to stop and let excess fuel run out. According to Fire Rescue, the driver left the scene prior to the arrival of responders.
The strategic application of sand by Street and Alley helped absorb runaway fuel and mitigate any immediate environmental threats, according to Cheyenne Fire Rescue Chief Andrew Dykshorn.
“We always ask people to turn off their engine, stay outside their vehicles to monitor the pump, not smoke, and reduce static electricity discharge around your vehicle while fueling,” Dykshorn said. “Please notify the attendant immediately of any spill that occurs if one is available and, if not, call 911.”
The sand placed to absorb the fuel has since been removed. As for the initial incident, Fire Rescue is investigating in concert with the business that sold the fuel.
