By TERRY PUGH
Martensville Fire Department members responded to a diesel fuel spill at the Co-op gas station on Centennial Drive in Martensville at about 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 7.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find diesel fuel on the ground around a gravel truck parked at a pump. Martensville Fire Chief Dean Brooman said the diesel was coming from the semi’s fuel tank.
“The fuel spill had been contained by Co-op staff to the fuel area,” said Brooman, adding Martensville firefighters secured the area and closed down the fuel card lock station.
Firefighters used a combination of foam and absorbent materials, including cat litter, to slow the leak and prevent further fuel leaking into the surrounding area and potentially leaching into the soil.
Brooman estimated that approximately 120 to 150 litres of diesel had been spilled.
Fire department personnel cordoned off the area around the diesel pumps at the rear of the gas station while they worked to mitigate environmental damage. The gas pumps at the front of the station were not affected by the incident, and while onlookers were kept at a distance from the affected area, business continued as usual.
Following the initial mitigation work by firefighters, GFL, an environmental clean-up company was called in to clean up the site and remove the spilled fuel. Martensville RCMP were also dispatched to the scene. There were no injuries in the incident.