Western NC gas stations still running empty

ASHEVILLE — Fights broke out between motorists waiting in long lines for fuel at an Asheville station and managers called police for help.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that three fights occurred Monday at Roadrunner Shell. Station manager Marsha Messer directed lines of cars in her lot and said people are panicked about the shortage.

Some experts say Asheville’s distance from the Colonial Pipeline could be adding to the shortage. The pipeline is the main source of East Coast gasoline supplies that were reduced after Hurricane Ike closed oil refineries on the Gulf Coast.

Buncombe County deputy fire marshal Mack Salley said he’s talked to local distributors who said they’re sending trucks to get gas and they’re coming back empty.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)