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Macquarie Street was blocked for more than an hour yesterday afternoon as emergency services dealt with a potential fuel leak.
Dubbo Fire and Rescue were called before 1.30pm yesterday afternoon after the liquid coming from a water tap at the rear of the premises smelt like fuel.
Fire officers investigated and found a pit in Macquarie Street that was leaking and triggered a low explosive limit. Police from Orana Local Area Command were called and a decision was made to close the street.
Macquarie Street was blocked to traffic between Church Street and Talbragar Street, while approximately 50 people were evacuating from buildings between Church Street and the intersection in front of Riverdale Shopping Centre, with the exception of the Amaroo Hotel, Mr Bean’s Coffee Emporium and Riverdale.
Fire and Rescue and Dubbo City Council determined the leak at the front of the building had brought up fuel that had then led to the strong scent of fuel at the back of the property. The leak was fixed by replacing a washer and all traces of the fuel disappeared.
Dubbo Fire and Rescue station officer Nick Beattie said while it was a relatively easy fix, it took a long time to trace the problem back to the cause.
“The previous occupant of the premises was a car dealership which had fuel bowsers and it appears this water leak has brought up some residual fuel. The problem was first detected at a tap at the back of the premises which smelt like pure fuel but the cause was at the front of the property.
“It took a fair bit of investigating to actually find the cause of the fuel leak.”
Shortly after 3.30pm, council staff and the fire brigade were satisfied the threat had been removed. The southbound lane of Macquarie Street was reopened and by 3.45pm both lanes were open to traffic.
Station Officer Beattie said council will continue to investigate the problem today, with Fire and Rescue also liaising.
“Dubbo City Council will look for the exact source of the fuel, with the knowledge that there were petrol tanks at the premises,” he said.
The Environmental Protection Authority were also alerted to the threat and were satisfied with how it was handled.