Fuel Spill Likely Caused Hazmat Scare On Oak Park Ave.

TINLEY PARK, IL — A fuel spill appears to be the cause of foul fumes that wafted from a storm sewer and shut down a section of Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park Friday. The source of the spill is still unknown.

The spill appears to have cleared, but authorities said they are still monitoring the system and a nearby creek that was affected.

"We visited the site again today, and the situation remains stable," said Alison Fore, a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District spokeswoman.

According to the Tinley Park Fire Department, officials responded to calls about a foul odor behind the Bremen VFW Post 2719 at 7 p.m. Friday night and found a strong scent of gasoline or fuel coming from a storm sewer that discharged into Midlothian Creek, which runs to the north of the VFW building, officials said. Vapors also were detected in the air and in the sewer system as far south as Tinley Park Roller Rink near 178th street. They treated the situation as a hazardous materials scene and called in MABAS Division 24 HazMat advisors for help. Officials later sent a Code Red alert to residents from 179th to 171st streets to notify them of events and to ask them to call 911 if they smelled foul odors in their houses.

Authorities shut down sections of Oak Park Avenue in intervals from about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. as public works officials and police assessed the area and the sewer system, and to permit hazmat staff to secure the area. The Illinois EPA and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District were notified, and sent a technician to the scene.

Crews used an emulsifier to reduce vapors released from the fuel spill, as well as the chance of fire or explosion, and diluted the storm sewer system until vapors disappeared and water ran clear. They also placed absorbent booms in the creek as a precaution, and officials said they will remain there for at least a week while the area is monitored.

The cause remains unknown.