'It's like liquid gold': Burke gas station popular oasis in temporary fuel desert
BURKE, Va. (7News) — What’s unfolding at the Express Stop gas station in Burke with drivers happily filling tanks non-stop has customers thrilled.
“We’re pretty fortunate to have found one that actually has some gas," says Richard Cauthers as he waits in line for gas.
It's not nearly the same scene at nearby stations where closed pumps are covered with signs of the times. Barry Rieger owns Express Stop.
Rieger says, “Fortunately we have gas. Our customers are very happy. It’s like liquid gold these days.”
One of his customers told us, “I heard that there were shortages all over Fairfax and so I called this gas station and before I asked they were like, yes, yes we have gas.” Another regular, Larry Bedker, used another form of technology to find fuel.
“We actually used an app to find which station still had gas and this was the only one listed anywhere close," adds Bedker.
I discovered, while canvassing this part of Fairfax County, station after station without gas. Employees telling me they’re anxious for tankers to return.
“Trouble is the panic buying. It’s like a frenzy," adds Rieger.
Rieger’s hope, with the pipeline back up, is that normal is only a handful of days away. In the interim, he and others strongly suggest taking it easy. Drive slower, drive less and consider carpooling.
Cauthers concludes, “Well, we’ve been very cautious. We don’t use any more than we have to.”
