Police

Bank briefly evacuated after fuel spill in parking lot

Firefighters briefly evacuated a bank after a fuel spill outside of it this afternoon. (Credit: Tim Gannon)
Firefighters briefly evacuated a bank after a fuel spill outside of it this afternoon. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Chase Bank was evacuated shortly after noon while Riverhead Fire Department volunteers responded to a report of a fuel spill in the parking lot just north of the branch in Riverhead Centre on Route 58.

Riverhead Fire Marshal Craig Zitek said the fuel smelled like gasoline, although it has not officially been determined what it was. Several parking spaces were being roped off to keep parking from parking there and he said the bank was initially evacuated when the call first came in.

The fire department placed “speedy dry” on the spill areas to sop up the fuel.

Mr. Zitek said the cause of spill has not been determined and the state Department of Environmental Conservation has been called to investigate the scene further.

Firefighter were on the scene until about 1 p.m.