News

March 20, 2015 | From New Orleans Fire Department

NOFD and USCG Investigate Fuel Spill in Lake Pontchartrain

Friday, March 20, 2015 at 8:02 a.m. the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) was dispatched to 8000 Lakeshore Dr. to investigate a red oily sheen in Lake Pontchartrain near Landry’s Restaurant.  The first NOFD company arrived on the scene at 8:07 a.m. confirmed the presence of the oily substance and requested dispatch of the NOFD Hazardous Materials Unit (Haz-Mat).  The NOFD’s on-scene Incident Commander put NOFD Fireboat “Blaze” into service to get a more accurate assessment of the area of Lake Pontchartrain and the New Basin Canal affected.  It was estimated that the oily substance covered an approximate 2 square mile area of the waterways.

 

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector 1 and the National Response Center were notified of the possible spill. The USCG Hazardous Materials Team and Rapid Response Team were subsequently dispatched to the scene.  Members of the NOFD Haz-Mat unit tested a sample of the substance and were able to positively identify the substance as diesel fuel.   It was determined that the fuel came from a docked 73ft recreation boat having maintenance done while docked in the New Basin Canal.  NOFD personnel turned the scene over to the USCG and went back into service at 10:40 am.

 

Dispatched:                 8:02 a.m.

On scene:                    8:07 a.m.

Disposition:                 Confirmed Diesel Spill in Lake Pontchartrain

NOFD Cleared:          10:40 a.m.