Firefighters cleaned up a fuel spill in Springdale on Monday after about 50 gallons of diesel spilled into a creek there.
Officials said a maintenance person worked on the 160-gallon tank that supplies fuel to generators for city of Springdale buildings and didn't close a valve all the way.
On Monday, a hose slipped off the tank, and officials said that anywhere from 20 to 50 gallons of fuel leaked into the drainage system and into Spring Creek. Both a police officer and a nearby neighbor noticed the smell and called firefighters.
Springdale crews said when they got to the creek they could see the sheen of fuel on the water. They used special equipment to contain the spill and absorb the fuel, firefighters said.
It took several hours to clean, and officials said the environmental effects aren't yet known. However, they said that the weather cooperated with their efforts.
"I'm really hopeful we caught it early enough, and with the rain it would have kept most of it floating and from getting into the dirt. So, the rain was helpful from keeping it from sinking into the dirt," said Springdale spokesman Wyman Morgan.
Springdale officials said the spill was an accident, but from now on, they will add an extra safety pin to the fuel pump to let whoever has used it know whether the valve is off.
City leaders also said they are considering replacing their generator and fuel system with more high-tech equipment.
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