A worker was hospitalized after reportedly passing out inside an empty fuel tank at a Sacramento Costco fueling station, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. at the location on Expo Parkway where rescue crews, including a hazmat team, were deployed to extract the worker from the tank, as reported by ABC10.
During a remodel of the station, it was necessary to clean the tanks, leading to the worker, who has yet to be publicly identified, to enter the tank. Captain Justin Sylvia, spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department, detailed that there were still high levels of gasoline vapors present, which likely contributed to the worker's condition. "An employee went inside, reportedly went down and passed out," Sylvia told ABC10. The employee was inside the tank for approximately 20 to 30 minutes before being rescued
According to KCRA, upon being retrieved, the worker was unresponsive, and CPR had to be performed as part of emergency medical efforts while en route to the hospital. The nature of the reported medical emergency, whether it was caused purely by the fumes or was an unrelated medical issue, remains unclear. The Sacramento Fire Department has stated that the worker is in critical condition.
The ongoing investigation has led to the temporary closure of the Costco gas station. While the tanks themselves are deemed to pose no threat to the public, authorities are urging people to avoid the area at this time. "The tank was emptied while the fuel pumps were being remodeled," confirmed an official statement from the Sacramento Fire Department, obtained by KCRA. More details on the worker's condition are awaited as the community hopes for their recovery.
