A fuel truck operated by the company Sound Aircraft Services caught fire this Thursday afternoon during a security test at the East Hampton airport. The incident, which occurred around 2 in the afternoon, was quickly controlled and no injuries or fuel spills were reported, according to a statement from the municipality of East Hampton.
The authorities reported that the fire broke out while technicians carried out a 100 octane aviation gasoline transfer, among the internal tanks of the truck, as part of a standard procedure after an annual inspection of the measurement system, supervised by the state agency Weights and Measures. This entity is responsible for guaranteeing the precision and safety of fuel distribution systems, including those used in airport facilities, says the municipality statement.
The fire was caused by vapors that were lit due to a spark generated by static electricity. The technicians themselves managed to quell the flames using a purple k extinguisher, designed for chemical fires. Minutes later, members of the East Hampton Fire Department arrived, who cooled the tank with water, to avoid a reign.
-Although the fire did not spread or cause major damage, the water used in cooling work contaminated the fuel inside the tank. This fuel will be removed and removed safely in an authorized environmental installation, says the statement.
The airport was temporarily closed by an official notice of the FAA, but reopened around 3 in the afternoon. A second notice was issued to inform that, for the moment, the airport does not have 100 octane aviation gasoline.
Local authorities confirmed that the situation is completely under control.
