Red diesel washing ashore was from Keesler AFB - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Red diesel washing ashore was from Keesler AFB

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(Photo source: Susan Guice) (Photo source: Susan Guice)
(Photo source: Susan Guice) (Photo source: Susan Guice)
(Photo source: Susan Guice) (Photo source: Susan Guice)
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -

The red diesel fuel that washed ashore near Kensington Drive Thursday morning in Biloxi came from the fuel tank of a generator at Keesler Air Force Base.

Officials said the diesel leaked into storm water, then drained into the Back Bay.

"Once we came out here and actually smelled the diesel fuel and confirmed it, we started immediate recovery teams," said Colonel Mark Vivians with Keesler Air Force Base. "We actually have a contractor coming online to do full recovery of this area and actually capture the diesel fuel and remediate it."

The workers are using a "boom like material" to soak up the fuel, which they said is not hazardous to humans. That's why they did not evacuate nearby residents.

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Marine Resources also have teams on the scene helping with the fuel cleanup and investigation.

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