How should you address a fuel spill near an exterior fire line?

• A. Stop fuel source if possible, isolate area, and apply water to cool fuel and prevent ignition; call HazMat if necessary.
• B. Buy more fuel to dilute spill.
• C. Ignite the spill to burn it off safely.
• D. Move fire line away and leave spill unaddressed.

Answer: (A)

Stop the fuel source if possible, isolate the area to prevent spread, and apply water to cool the fuel and prevent ignition; call HazMat if the spill is large or involves unknown or hazardous materials. Stopping the release cuts off the hazard, and isolating the area reduces exposure and limits where ignition could occur. Cooling with water lowers the temperature of the fuel and surrounding surfaces, reducing vapor production and the chance of a flash or spread of flames. If the spill is beyond your ability to manage, a HazMat team can provide specialized containment and cleanup. Igniting the spill or leaving it unaddressed would create an uncontrolled fire and toxic vapors, while simply adding more fuel makes the situation worse.