Businesses at Saguaro and Shea boulevards were evacuated early Sunday morning, Nov. 7, after a gasoline tanker ruptured and spilled between 2,500 4,000 gallons of its cargo.

Firefighters and hazardous materials teams converged on the intersection after the tanker truck struck a post between the McDonald’s restaurant and Circle K, tearing a hole in the tank.

Fire Chief Randy Roberts said a main concern was the number of potential sources of ignition for the gasoline that could cause an explosion and fire.

Roberts said firefighters pulled large protective hose lines to prepare for that possibility.

The gasoline was flowing north along Saguaro from Trevino Drive as far as Ledferd Lane. Fire crews built dirt dikes to contain the gasoline.

Once the tanker stopped leaking the remaining fuel was offloaded onto another tanker.

Roberts said fire crews and hazmat teams responded from Rio Verde Fire District, Fort McDowell Fire Department, Scottsdale, Mesa and Phoenix fire departments.

An Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) emergency responder assessed the environmental impact. An environmental clean-up contractor was called to the scene.

Town Environmental Planner Raymond Rees said he is working closely with ADEQ to assess the extent of the spill.

Rees said the fuel crossed under Saguaro Boulevard through a culvert and into a wash between the First Baptist Church and the Clear Aire subdivision.

Rees said a determination also needs to be made as to whether the fuel spill crossed the town boundary onto the Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation. He said Fort McDowell environmental officials have been notified and will be kept up to date on the situation.

Street Department officials assessed pavement damage and the Sanitary District was notified of possible contamination.

Sanitary District Manager Ron Huber said the district had personnel on scene shortly after the incident occurred.

“To the best of our knowledge there was no contamination of the sewer system from the spill,” Huber said.

The fuel transport company is responsible for the clean-up, and a firm has been hired to do the work. The effort will take an undetermined amount of time.

Southbound traffic on Saguaro Boulevard has been reduced to one lane from just south of Palmer Lane to Trevino Drive for the clean-up efforts.