Fuel spill put ‘minimal amount’ in creek

Jul 5, 2019 | 5:30 AM

Vernon Fire Rescue says only a minor amount of diesel got into BX Creek after an incident last week.

Deputy Chief Dwight Seymour said about 20 gallons, or 75 litres, of diesel spilled from a transport truck’s tank outside Banner Recreation on 43rd Avenue last Friday.

“There was also a huge downpour of rain at the same time, so as our crews got there and got our containment berms and got our (absorbant) down to contain what diesel fuel was on the pavement, some had already migrated with the rain down into the storm drains that are in the parking lots and the storm drains go directly to the creeks,” Seymour told Vernon Matters.

Seymour said any little amount of diesel can usually be smelled.

“Because it’s oil-based, it kind of sticks and causes a smell, so that’s why we had people saying they could smell stuff from BX Creek. There was never any sheen or large amount,” he said.

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Seymour added anything under 100 litres doesn’t have to be reported to the province.

“A minor amount did get into the storm drains. It’s really no different than sometimes a huge rain will wash oil from vehicles off of parking lots and end up in the storm drain. I would say it was a minimal amount that went into the creek, and that was what was washed with the rain prior to us getting containment,” Seymour said.

Crews had one report of a diesel smell from the Vernon Lodge for which has the creek running through the middle of its building.

“Because it’s in kind of an enclosed area, they just had a smell of the diesel fuel for a few hours until it was able to dissipate,” he said.

by Pete McIntyre

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