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Gasoline spill stopped before reaching Rangeley Lake

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RANGELEY – A potentially dangerous gasoline spill at the town’s park was prevented from entering Rangeley Lake through the combined efforts of a Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust courtesy boat inspector and the local fire, public works, and police departments.

On a recent Sunday morning, Marty Velishka, RLHT’s Courtesy Boat Inspector, was teaching boaters how to inspect their boats and trailers before and after they operate their watercraft. Suddenly Velishka noticed that gasoline was pouring from one of the vehicles parked near the boat ramp. The owner of the vehicle had just launched his boat and was several hundred yards off shore. Recognizing the environmental threat posed by the gasoline spill as well as the threat to fire and public safety, Velishka immediately contacted the Rangeley Fire Department.

In less than 15 minutes, Fire Chief Rudy Davis and his crew were on site. Using a strategy approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the firefighters began mopping up the spilled fuel. At the same time Chief Davis requested that the Public Works Department respond to the accident with its front end loader and a bucket of sand.

Working under the direction of Chief Davis, public works employees dumped the sand on the parking area, the boat launch and the park road. Then several firefighters carefully spread the sand over the spill area with shovels to ensure the absorption of the fuel and prevent its flow into the lake. The following day, after all of the toxic fuel was absorbed, the Public Works Department scooped up the contaminated sand and removed it for proper disposal.

In the midst of this effort, Chief Davis also contacted the Police Department. At the time, the goal of the department was to prevent the leaking vehicle (and its owner) from leaving the park under its own power. Using registration information and a description of the boat supplied by Velishka, the police began searching the lake for the boater. On finding him they advised the boater of his leaking fuel tank and helped him make arrangements to have the vehicle safely towed from the park.

For more than six years, the RLHT’s courtesy boat inspectors have served as the first line of defense against invasive species like Eurasian Watermilfoil, Didymo (Rock Snot) and small mouth bass. They have also served the public by helping boaters safely launch and remove their boats. Finally, they have provided educational materials and advised boaters of safety and angling regulations.

On this particular day, one boat inspector furthered his lake protection efforts while ensuring the safety of visitors to the park. Working rapidly and efficiently with Rangeley’s Public Safety/Works departments, RLHT’s CBI protected Rangeley Lake, one of the region’s most valuable and cherished treasures. 

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