COMPLIANCE INFO - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mar 12 04 12: 35p SRN JOAQUIN CO SO 2094684167 p. 2 Office Of Sheriff - Coroner Inter Office Memo To: LT Mendoz4 ` Dater 3-10-2004 From: Sgt Purkis Subject: Fuel Spill At San Joaquin General Hospital 2-29-2004 On the evening of 2-29-2004, Deputies Sanchez,McKee, and M. Smith were in the process of fueling their patrol cars when the pumps malfunctioned, and gasoline was spilled on the grounds of the hospital. According to Dep. Sanchez,he was sitting in his patrol car while his partner, Dep. McKee and Dep. M Smith were putting fuel into the car. He told me that several other units had just finished fueling their patrol cars, and Dep.McKee was having trouble with the gas nozzle. Dep. Sanchez told me that the pump nozzle was `clicking off repeatedly, and that they were not having any success with fueling their patrol car, when he smelled gasoline. He told me that he got out of the car, and they heard a sound similar to running water. Dep Sanchez told me that he and Dep Mckee and Dep Smith walked around the tanks, and saw a large amount of gasoline flowing from what appeared to be a vent pipe on the top of the pumps on the north west side of the tanks. Dep Sanchez then looked for and located the emergency cut-off switch while Dep. Smith called dispatch to report the problem with the fuel pump and the fuel spill. Dep Sanchez told me that he used the emergency cutoff switch and the fuel stopped flowing from the vent pipe. I asked Dep Sanchez if they had attempted to manipulate any other switches or valves on the tanks prior to the spill, and he told me that he had not. I spoke to Dep MC Jones,who was also at the scene. He told me that he had put fuel into his patrol car, and driven to the west side of the hospital, as he had been dispatched to a `914 report'. He told me that when he heard the call From Dep M. Smith reporting the spill,he drove back to the scene to assist with traffic control and isolating the area. Sgt Cordova was called to the scene, and he supervised the operation until SJGH engineering, fire, and EHD arrived on scene. Deputies that were actually fueling the vehicle were Dep. McKee and Sanchez. Deputy that actually called in the spill was Dep Marcus Smith. .