STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A semi-tractor trailer lost its fuel in the parking lot of an industrial building on 15 Mile Road, west of Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights.
Officials say Sterling Heights firefighters blocked off the storm drain and used absorbent mats and other materials to prevent most of the diesel fuel from reaching the Busch Drain, which flows south into the Big Beaver Creek, north of 14 Mile Road.
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An estimated 50-80 gallons of diesel fuel may have entered the storm system.
“We applaud the Sterling Heights Fire Department for their quick action,” said Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller.
The Macomb County Public Works Office contacted an environmental services contractor to assist with hazardous materials.
Workers at the City of Warren’s wastewater division placed an absorbent boom downstream across the Big Beaver Creek at 14 Mile Road as a precaution to halt any fuel spread that may reach that point.
“Spills like this are very unfortunate and often are accidental,” Miller said. “In this instance, it resulted when someone tried to steal the semi-truck Sunday night and struck a concrete abutment. It also showed how effective the emergency response can be when the multi-agency notification process is followed. When everyone leaps into action like we did today, we protect water quality downstream -- especially at Lake St. Clair – by containment and sopping up spills.”
