ROCKPORT — The Rockport Fire Department responded to the report of a gas spill on Route 1 near Hannaford Shopping Plaza this afternoon, and plugged a hole in the side of a boat so no more fuel would escape.

According to Jason Peasley, Rockport Fire Chief, a Camden resident had filled what he thought was his boat’s gas tank at Maritime Farms in Rockport on Aug. 30 before heading out to Megunticook Lake for the afternoon. Unfortunately, the 30 gallons of fuel did not get funneled into the gas tank of the power boat; instead, the gas was mistakenly pumped into the boat’s air tank.

There were no plugs at either end of the air tank. When the family pulled out of Maritime Farms onto Route 1, they realized the mistake, as gas began to spill over the highway. They quickly took a left into the Hannaford parking lot, with gas still running out of the bilge pump hole, said Peasley.

When firefighters arrived several minutes later, the gas was already evaporating off the pavement under the summer sun.

Firefighters used a wax toilet bowl ring to plug the holes in the air tank, a versatile tool and technique that the resourceful former Rockport Fire Chief Bruce Woodward taught his firefighters about.

The boat owner subsequently drove the boat home, where he was instructed to flush out the boat’s air tank. Peasley followed him there to ensure against additional mishaps.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.