Fuel leaking into the ground and sewer lines may require shutting down the Crysen refinery and could require a major cleanup, South Davis Fire District Chief John Speed said Thursday.
What appeared to be a minor leak Wednesday afternoon has blossomed, Speed said, and 14 businesses in Woods Cross are closed as local and state officials try to determine the extent of the flow.Speed said refinery officials have dug a trench around two tanks suspected in the leak and are trying to determine where the liquid, a mixture of several types of fuel, is coming from.
The first leak was detected Wednesday afternoon around 1 p.m. in Woods Cross sewer lines. Four houses on 1100 West were evacuated briefly until fire district crews vented the lines, dissipating the vapor.
About 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, fire crews found a manhole on 1100 West that had what Speed described as "pure product" from the refinery flowing into it. They dug a trench and began pumping it out, keeping the fuel from flowing farther into the lines.
Speed said that at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Mountain Fuel responded to a call of a possible gas leak at businesses along 1100 West between 1500 South and 2600 South.
Crews determined the fumes were from a petroleum product and called the fire district, Speed said.
"We're monitoring it now and trying to determine where the product is coming from and how far it's spread," Speed said. "We've shut down 14 businesses along 1100 West, and we're considering shutting down the refinery."
Speed said no homes are in the area and there is no immediate danger.
Refinery crews have dug a trench around two tanks that are suspected of being the source, he said, looking for leaks.
The tanks are reclamation tanks and hold a mixture of jet fuel, gasoline and other fuels being processed, Speed said.
"We don't know at this point how much has leaked out," Speed said. "The refinery has no record of any product missing. One of the tanks they're trenching around holds 5,000 barrels," the chief said.