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2,700 gallons of jet fuel spilled at TIMCO
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| Columbia County firefighters respond to Hangar 1 at Timco Aviation Services Friday morning to assist the Timco Crash and Rescue unit contain a 2,700-gallon aviation fuel spill. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Emergency crews spend hours trying to minimize hazard potential.
By TONY BRITT
tbritt@lakecityreporter.com
Columbia County and Lake City fire department units responded to Timco Aviation Services Friday morning and spent more than four hours aiding the Timco Crash and Rescue unit in containing a 2,700-gallon aviation fuel spill.
Harvey Campbell, Columbia County Emergency Operation Center public information officer, identified the fuel as Jet Fuel A, which has a high ignition point. He said once it’s ignited, it is extremely flammable.
The fuel spill occurred while Timco employees were working on a plane in Hangar 1. The initial fuel spill occurred at approximately 9:45 a.m. but Campbell said Timco crews called the fire department at 10:15 a.m. to the east Lake City location for additional help when Timco employees were unable to cap the fuel spill.
Campbell said a fuel filter on an airliner was being changed and a flap designed to contain the fuel became lodged against another piece of equipment. The fuel spill occurred when workers attempted to unlodge the equipment.
“(Workers) were changing a (fuel) filter and the filter got stuck and when it did, it broke off a valve, which allowed about 2,700 gallons of Jet Fuel A to spill,” Campbell said.
Four Timco employees were exposed to the jet fuel, but did not require medical attention.
“We believe there are no lasting injuries to the four (employees),” Campbell said.
A total of eight emergency vehicles from the Lake City and Columbia County fire departments responded to the scene, including the North Central Florida Regional Hazardous Materials unit. A total of about 30 emergency personnel were on the scene for several hours, according to Campbell.
“Most of the fuel has been vacuumed into bowsers,” Campbell said, describing bowsers as metal containers on wheels used for collecting fuel and other liquid spills.
The fuel spill happened in Hangar 1 on the east side of the Timco site. For a time, Hangar 1 and Hanger 2 were closed, but after the spill was contained Hangar 2 was re-opened. Campbell said the airport remained opened throughout the day and no flames were reported.
Firefighters treated the spill with carbon dioxide, foam, dry chemicals and water fog.
“That’s the standard treatment for this,” Campbell said. “This jet fuel will evaporate and create a vapor that can hang around. That is of some issue. Of course the windy conditions helped a little bit in moving the vapors out.”
Firefighters used large fans in the hangar as they attempted to dissipate the vapor. Lake City Police Department officers were on scene to provide security at the scene.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also sent inspectors to the scene to determine the environmental impact of the fuel spill and make sure cleanup operations were properly handled.
Representatives from an environmental cleanup company in Jacksonville were also called to the site to complete the final mop-up activities.
Repeated calls to Timco public relations officials were not immediately returned.
Harvey Campbell, Columbia County Emergency Operation Center public information officer, identified the fuel as Jet Fuel A, which has a high ignition point. He said once it’s ignited, it is extremely flammable.
The fuel spill occurred while Timco employees were working on a plane in Hangar 1. The initial fuel spill occurred at approximately 9:45 a.m. but Campbell said Timco crews called the fire department at 10:15 a.m. to the east Lake City location for additional help when Timco employees were unable to cap the fuel spill.
Campbell said a fuel filter on an airliner was being changed and a flap designed to contain the fuel became lodged against another piece of equipment. The fuel spill occurred when workers attempted to unlodge the equipment.
“(Workers) were changing a (fuel) filter and the filter got stuck and when it did, it broke off a valve, which allowed about 2,700 gallons of Jet Fuel A to spill,” Campbell said.
Four Timco employees were exposed to the jet fuel, but did not require medical attention.
“We believe there are no lasting injuries to the four (employees),” Campbell said.
A total of eight emergency vehicles from the Lake City and Columbia County fire departments responded to the scene, including the North Central Florida Regional Hazardous Materials unit. A total of about 30 emergency personnel were on the scene for several hours, according to Campbell.
“Most of the fuel has been vacuumed into bowsers,” Campbell said, describing bowsers as metal containers on wheels used for collecting fuel and other liquid spills.
The fuel spill happened in Hangar 1 on the east side of the Timco site. For a time, Hangar 1 and Hanger 2 were closed, but after the spill was contained Hangar 2 was re-opened. Campbell said the airport remained opened throughout the day and no flames were reported.
Firefighters treated the spill with carbon dioxide, foam, dry chemicals and water fog.
“That’s the standard treatment for this,” Campbell said. “This jet fuel will evaporate and create a vapor that can hang around. That is of some issue. Of course the windy conditions helped a little bit in moving the vapors out.”
Firefighters used large fans in the hangar as they attempted to dissipate the vapor. Lake City Police Department officers were on scene to provide security at the scene.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also sent inspectors to the scene to determine the environmental impact of the fuel spill and make sure cleanup operations were properly handled.
Representatives from an environmental cleanup company in Jacksonville were also called to the site to complete the final mop-up activities.
Repeated calls to Timco public relations officials were not immediately returned.
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Dave wrote on Feb 23, 2008 6:59 PM: