Petrol, petrol everywhere

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 1

Petrol, petrol everywhere

A lake of premium grade petrol lies between storage tanks at the Seaview oil depot in Lower Hutt after a big spillage yesterday.

Prompt action by firemen and staff turned a potential million - dollar disaster into a $5OOO one at the Mobil depot. About 10,000 litres of premium grade petrol spill-

cd from a 2.3-million-litre storage tank after scaffolding fell on the tank’s valve in what company officials described as a “freak accident.”

The spill prompted a big alert. Police and traffic officers blocked off all roads to the area while depot staff and firemen worked to contain the spilled petrol and block further spillage.

The acting chief fire officer of the Lower Hutt brigade, Mr J. Osborne said the firemen first had to stem the flow of petrol then made the area safe, from ignition sources which could ignite fumes. Firemen spread foam round the base of the leaking tank which was awash with petrol, to lessen the chance of an explosion.

Petrol was 'pumped from, the damaged tank to another holding tank while water was pumped into the leaking tank below, pushing the petrol up above the level of the leaking valve. The depot was declared safe and staff were able to return to work early

yesterday afternoon. Firemen continued mopping up work until 5 p.m.