Race Track Gas Station Reopens After Fuel Spill Cleanup

Race Track Gas Station on St. John

The Race Track Gas Station, located on the southeast end of St. John on Southside Road, reopened for business Wednesday following a fuel spill of an unknown amount on Monday morning, Columbus Day.

Initial response by Virgin Islands Fire Service (VIFS) following a call to the St. Thomas 9-1-1 Emergency Call Center, received at approximately 10:19 a.m., identified fuel draining down the hill from the Race Track Gas Station, past the St. John Gourmet Market and running into the gut located at the bridge before the entrance to the Westin St. John Resort.

St. John Administrator Shikima Jones had been notified of the event on Monday by VIFS Director Daryl George. She contacted a Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) official on St. John. Jones noted that as Monday was a holiday, it was difficult to contact some workers, and she thanked VIFS and DPNR for having individuals available who were able to provide information both on the phone and on the scene.

“I was very impressed with the teamwork of our first responders and how they were able to quickly assess the hazard and work to prevent what could have been a very bad situation,” said the administrator.

DPNR Hazard Mitigation representatives interviewed Race Track Gas Station employees who acknowledged a hose from one of the transfer tanks became disconnected during a fuel transfer operation but had since removed the hose to prevent any further fuel spill. On their own initiative, Race Track Gas Station requisitioned a truck load of sand to cover the fuel spill to minimize any potential hazard to passing vehicles.

The fuel spill, covered with sand, laid along the concrete drain ditch all the way down to the gut. VIFS and Westin St. John Resort’s Engineering Manager provided containment booms to prevent any fuel from running further down the mostly dry gut. Race Track Gas Station employees spent most of Tuesday cleaning up the contaminated sand in the concrete ditch.

DPNR provided the gas station personnel guidelines for cleanup and removal of the contaminated soil in the gut, and employees spent Wednesday morning removing the material from it. Following inspection by the VIFS and DPNR, Race Track Gas Station resumed normal operations on Wednesday afternoon.

DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol said, “Environmental hazards are far reaching and do not always show the damage immediately. It is important that we continue to monitor the incident site to further mitigate impact.”

VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen, who arrived on St. John Wednesday morning to attend the monthly St. John Emergency Support Council meeting talked about the incident during the meeting. Jaschen said, “This spill could have been much worse, both for safety of individuals in the immediate area and environmentally. Race Track Gas Station employees took quick action to prevent an even greater fuel spill. VIFS effectively worked together to protect the safety of individuals and property.

St. John Deputy Fire Chief Clarence Stephenson, who served as the incident commander said, “I definitely want to thank Administrator Jones, DPNR officials and the Westin St. John Resort for the all the support over the past several days. Everyone came together and worked towards a common goal of keeping our community safe.”