(UPDATE POSTED 1:30 P.M. FRIDAY) The Danville Fire Department reported today that it maintained personnel at the service station at 642 Worsham St. monitoring the gasoline situation throughout the night Thursday night and Friday morning. The contractor, W.E.L. Inc., started its clean-up operation just after midnight. The contractor cleaned up the stay dry that was put down in the parking lot and streets placed there to absorb the liquid. It also picked up the absorbent pads that were placed in the creeks and drains.
In addition, W.E.L. recovered the absorbent booms that were in the creek in order to properly dispose of them. Replacement booms are now in place. After its initial clean-up, it put several prevention tactics in place.
The Fire Department said Friday that the public may see long white cylinder shaped objects in the creeks and drains in the area around and below Worsham Street. The objects are there to insure that any residual product is recovered. The public also may see areas of plastic covering on the ground. This covering was put in place to cover areas that may have been affected by the spill. They will be in place until W.E.L. returns to remove them and the soil in that area.
The area will be returned to its original state. From time to time you may smell a slight odor of gasoline in the air, which is the norm after a spill.
The Fire Department will continue to monitor and follow up on the incident.
Battalion Chief Barry Neal said the response efforts were successful due to the rapid response of the Fire Department and the Haz-Mat Team. "This once again reminds us how fortunate we are to have a Regional Haz-Mat Response Team within the Danville Fire Department," Neal said.
(ORIGINAL STORY POSTED 11 P.M. THURSDAY)
Gas spill on Worsham Street
The Danville Fire Department and the Danville Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team have contained a gas spill that occurred Thursday evening at a service station located at 642 Worsham St.
The fire department and the hazardous materials team responded after a call was received at 8:01 p.m. reporting the gas spill. Battalion Chief F. D. Fowler said the station was under renovation. The incident occurred when a valve malfunctioned as the gas pumps were being placed in service.
The malfunction resulted in a gas spray. An estimated 300 to 500 gallons of gasoline spilled on the ground. The spill on the ground is contained.
Gasoline also entered the storm drainage system, which flows to a nearby creek. The flow of gasoline has been stopped at the edge of the creek. An undetermined amount of gasoline entered the creek, which leads to the Dan River.
A cleanup contractor is in route to Danville. Wastewater treatment plant workers in Danville and South Boston have been notified. The plants are located downstream of the spill.
State officials also have been notified.
The fire department and hazardous materials team are monitoring air quality due to the gas smell in the neighborhood.
