Most drivers must use gas station pumps at least a couple of times a month. However, most don’t expect roads to close due to gas leaks. Still, this happened recently in Illinois, requiring extensive cleanup with multiple crews. Many people are typically concerned with the smell of a gas leak, but leadership in the area has other things to consider. 

The BP leak didn’t come from gas station pumps

According to Fox 2 Now, a gas leak happened at a BP station on April 5th. The station is located in the 800 block of South Main, and the local firefighters received word of the leak at around 8:30 a.m. As mentioned, the leak didn’t stem from the gas station pumps. Instead, it originated from an underground fuel tank at the BP location. It’s currently unclear what caused the underground leak. 

Naturally, there are several safety concerns when it comes to gas leaks. For Troy, Illinois, the biggest was that the fuel could make its way to the storm sewer system or the nearby creek. Because of this, it became the firefighters’ priority to prevent the gas from spreading. Still, the leak was so extensive that the firefighters needed aid from the Madison County HazMat Team, the Troy Public Works Department, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. 

Following the gas leak, authorities asked nearby businesses to close for the rest of the day. The people working to rectify the leak spent the day checking storm drains, area businesses, and various waterways to ensure the leak hadn’t had an impact. This will continue for the time being. As mentioned, they were also forced to close a busy road in the area. Specifically, South Main Street between West Fitch Street and Route 162 has been shut down. Sadly, the residents of Troy will be left with the smell of the gas leak for some time.