On Thursday May 15th, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called  to respond to a 10,000 gallon crude oil spill at 5175 W San Fernando Road after an above-ground pipeline break that sprayed oil 20 feet into the air and onto the neighboring businesses, while fumes spread for miles.

LAFD Hazardous Materials (HAZ-MAT) teams worked to contain the runoff using sand from a local concrete company and built a 2.5ft high x 30ft wide lagoon of oil that was then suctioned off the road by vacuum trucks. Absorbents were used to soak up the remaining crude oil, and the asphalt and building were given a power-soak with high pressure water and soap solution. Luckily, no oil entered the L.A. River storm drains.

 

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