B737-800 FLT CREW HAS A FUEL SPILL WHILE PARKED AT THE GATE.

Narrative

AFTER ARRIVING TO THE ACFT; MY FO WAS OUT DOING A PREFLT. HE CAME BACK UPSTAIRS AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FUEL LEAK FROM THE L WING. I THEN ASKED THE AGENT TO TAKE A HANDICAPPED WOMAN (WAITING TO BOARD) SITTING IN HER WHEELCHAIR OFF THE JETBRIDGE AND BACK INTO THE TERMINAL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; WE FOUND OUT THE L WING AUTO SHUTOFF VALVE HAD FAILED. I DECIDED TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE FUEL SPILL. THE RAMP MGR WAS DOWN THERE WITH SOME OF HIS INDIVIDUALS SOAKING UP THE FUEL WITH 'OILDRY.' I ASKED WHY THE FIRE DEPT IS NOT HERE STANDING BY IN CASE OF A FIRE. SOME OF THE FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT THE SIDE OF THE OILDRY AND DOWN TOWARDS THE MAIN DRAIN; ALONG WITH LOTS OF FUMES. AS THIS IS HAPPENING THE ARPT AUTH AND LCL POLICE DEPT HAD ALREADY PULLED UP WITHIN 5 FT OF THE FUEL SPILL WITH 1 CAR STILL RUNNING. I ASKED THE INDIVIDUAL TO GET THE CARS AWAY FROM THE FUEL AND THE FUMES DUE TO THE HOT EXHAUST AND IGNITION FIRING OFF ON THE RUNNING ENG. SHE TOLD ME 'NO I AM NOT; WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME AND IT'S NOT A PROB' AND THEN WALKED AWAY. THIS CAUSED THE FLT TO BE CANCELED.