Traffic disrupted by diesel spill in downtown Gaffney
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Ledger photo by TIM GULLA Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis, in helmet, keeps a watchful eye at the Five Points intersection as work progresses on the cleanup of a diesel fuel spill. A tractor-trailer with a punctured gas tank left a small trail of diesel fuel in its wake, prompting emergency responders to drain the truck's tanks to contain a potential environmental hazard.

A tractor-trailer's punctured gas tank caused about four hours of headaches Thursday afternoon when the truck left a small trail of diesel fuel in its wake as its traveled through downtown Gaffney.

Owned by Swift Trucking Company, the big rig's fuel tank apparently was punctured when the driver hit a curb while trying to turn around. While the leak was small, it represented a potential environmental mess that had to be contained.

Once the truck pulled over on Cherokee Avenue near the Five Points intersection, Gaffney Firefighters first began trying to contain the leaking fuel with a low-tech but effective tool - a plastic kiddie pool.

Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis said firefighters used some putty to seal the gas tank tear, and then started using a hand-pump to remove the remaining fuel from the tank.

Altogether, firefighters and other responders removed about 140 gallons of diesel fuel from the truck.

A wrecker was brought in to tow the damaged truck away, while a private contractor, JBR Russel & Son Construction Inc., was called in to remove any contaminated soil from where the truck stopped.

"It sounds like a big mess," Ellis said. "It probably wasn't five gallons."

Still, the incident kept Gaffney Firefighters occupied for several hours. The incident happened shortly after 2 p.m. and Ellis and other members of his department stayed on scene until after 6 p.m.