Source: Great American Environmental Division, May 2013
A Street and Road Contractor was excavating soil in an active intersection for the purpose of replacing storm water inlet boxes. During the course of the work the excavator overheated and caught fire. The ensuing fire severely damaged the excavator releasing its hydraulic fluids and diesel fuel. Water from firefighting activities spread the oils and fuel to surrounding soils and into an adjacent stream via the storm water inlet. Costs to delineate the impacts and remediate the soils and stream exceeded $85,000.