A fuel truck experienced a fire at East Hampton Airport while undergoing a safety test on Thursday, resulting in a temporary closure of the airport.

According to a statement from Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez’s office, the incident occurred around 2 p.m. during a routine annual meter inspection conducted by New York State Weights and Measures technicians. The test involved the transfer of 100-octane aviation gasoline between internal tanks on the truck, which was operated by Sound Aircraft Services. Within minutes, three officers from the fire marshal’s office arrived at the scene.

The Weights and Measures Division, a division of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and calibration of fuel-dispensing systems, including those used for aviation fuel at airports. Their role is to enforce state standards and consumer protection laws.

As the inspection was being completed and fuel was being returned to the tank, vapors coming from the truck were ignited by a spark caused by static electricity. The town’s statement confirmed that technicians present at the scene were able to put out the flames using a dry-chemical extinguisher. Shortly after, the East Hampton Fire Department arrived and cooled the tank with water. Fortunately, no one was injured, and no fuel was spilled. The fire was contained solely to the truck’s tank.

However, during the cooling process, water entered the tank and contaminated the fuel. As a result, the statement from Town Hall declared that the fuel will be removed and disposed of at a