Port Richey fuel leak under investigation, police say

PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Citizens west of US 19 were asked to remove their vessels from the water on Monday morning and avoid using the waterways after a fuel leak was reported in Port Richey near Nicks Park boat ramp. 

According to the Port Richey Police Department, officers were alerted to an ‘overpowering smell’ shortly before 3:20 a.m. on Monday.

Police say the smell appeared to be coming from an apparent diesel fuel leak. Port Richey Fire Chief Gary Policastri said investigators searched through the night for the source of the leak, but weren't able to locate it.

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Aerial view of a fuel leak in Port Richey. 

"All night long, they were trying to search for the culprit to the fuel leak, but they also were dealing with fog and darkness," Policastri said. "I've worked on the west side of Pasco County in the capacity of Fire Rescue for 37 years now, 36 years. I can tell you that I've had many, many fuel spills in the waterways. This one I would consider and was a pretty significant spill."

The fire department, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, were notified and worked on the issue from their respective headquarters. 

Those in the area were asked to stay out of the waterways until the spill was cleaned up or dissipated.