Fuel spill at airport
A big fire alert was declared at Christchurch Airport early yesterday morning when 600 litres of highly volatile aviation fuel was spilled. Airport rescue firemen and Fire Service staff from several Christchurch fire stations took an hour to neutralise the spill — on the tarmac used by
United States Naval Support Force Antarctica Hercules. The alarm was raised at 1.56 a.m. A spokesman for the rescue fire services said a highly volatile blended mix of aviation octane and aviation kerosene had spilled by an American Hercules transport. New Zealand Fire
Service fire engines from Christchurch, Harewood and Sockburn went to the spill.
Firemen used a special fuel dispersant to neutralise the fuel before washing the tarmac down. Commander Bob Harler, commander of U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica, said the spill occurred dur-
ing a fuel transfer between two parked aircraft.
A fuel valve became stuck in the open position, and aviation fuel was pumped out on to the tarmac.
He said alerting the Fire Services was routine. There was no damage to aircraft or the tarmac from the spill.
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Press, 1 December 1987, Page 9
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182Fuel spill at airport Press, 1 December 1987, Page 9
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