The head of an association of independent gasoline dealers in Washington says the longer the BP refinery is out of service because of fire damage, the higher prices at the pump will go for drivers in the state.

Tim Hamilton of the Automotive United Trades Organization said Wednesday that wholesale prices to dealers went up about 20 cents a gallon Tuesday. He says that will push prices in Washington close to $4 a gallon.

Other refineries in Washington could increase production to offset the BP outage, but Hamilton says crude oil stocks would likely run out in eight or nine days.

If the outage from Friday's refinery fire at Blaine lasts a month, Hamilton says prices would rise higher - to the point motorists are forced to cut their driving.