Spring Garden Fire was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire on the back side of Bob Rogers farm located at the intersection of County Rd 29 and County Rd 10.

Rogers was using an excavator while attempting to dig out and widen Hurricane Creek which runs through his property. The excavator caught fire while in the creek resulting in the release of diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid and motor oil. Approximately 65-75 gallons of diesel fuel, 60 gallons of hydraulic fluid and an unknown amount of motor oil was release into Hurricane Creek.   Once Spring Garden Fire personnel arrived on-scene and rescued Rogers, who was stuck in the creek unable to get out, the Cherokee County EMA was notified and responded to the scene.

After arriving on-scene and evaluating the HazMat release Cherokee County EMA HazMat Team deployed emergency protective measures to confine the release before it crossed under the bridge on County Rd 33 and before it could made it into Terrapin Creek.  Emergency protective measures are currently in place to ensure that the hazardous materials released are absorbed and removed from Hurricane Creek. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management was notified and is currently working with Cherokee County HazMat personnel as they work throughout the week to remove the contaminants.

Cherokee County EMA was able to contain the spill to the portion of Hurricane Creek that runs between County Road 29 and County Rd 33 and Spring Garden Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the excavator resulting in no injuries being reported.  Piedmont EMS responded to the scene at the request of Spring Garden Fire as a precautionary measure.