What happens to petrol from a fire-damaged site?

In brief

After a fire, tanks and containers can be damaged, contaminated with firefighting water and foam, and unsafe to leave. Once collected, waste petrol is tested, dewatered and recovered, usually as refinery feedstock or into fuel blending; phase-separated ethanol and water are treated separately. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.

Testing petrol after collection

A clear jar sample shows water and phase separation (a cloudy lower layer in E10). Laboratories test vapour pressure, octane, distillation and water content.

Petrol from a fire-damaged site: what to do first

Let the fire service and your insurer confirm the site is safe, then have fuel pumped out of damaged tanks and containers as a priority. Leave it where it is until the site is declared safe, then transfer it to sound containers.

How City Fuel Services handles waste petrol

City Fuel Services buys, collects and handles waste petrol for businesses, public bodies, farms and households. Describe the load and we come back with terms before booking the collection.

Terms used in this answer

Digital Waste Tracking: The government's online service for recording waste movements. Permitted sites receiving waste in England and Wales have had to use it since 1 October 2026.
Consignment note: The document that travels with hazardous waste from the producer to the receiving site. Each person in the chain completes and signs their part.

Key facts
Situation	From a fire-damaged site
Priority	High priority once the site is declared safe.
Fuel	Petrol
Also called	gasoline, motor spirit, unleaded
Waste code	13 07 02* (petrol)