Fuel Spill Gorge Waterway
Last updated on January 22, 2024Disclaimer:
- Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR).
- Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change.
Incident description
| Incident Date | January 20, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 240259 |
| Source | Hydrocarbon Spill |
| Nearest Community | Esquimalt, B.C. |
| Spilled Content | Hydrocarbons |
| Who is involved | Songhees Nation, Township of Esquimalt, Esquimalt Fire Department, View Royal Fire Department, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) |
Response phase details
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role.
The updates below reflect the ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions. Details describe the spill response phase only and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. Updates are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF, 106KB).
Most recent updates
January 21, 2024
A qualified professional has been on scene this morning and the clean-up is progressing well. The remaining oil from the source of the spill has been removed from drain tiles and the impacted ditches.
Boom remains in place at the outfall at the Gorge Waterway but spilled product is no longer entering the waterway. A qualified environmental consultant is beginning to work on environmental recovery actions.
January 20, 2024
A leaking residential above ground oil tank has been identified as the source of the spill. The source has been stabilized and additional boom and absorbent pads are being deployed at the Gorge Waterway outflow areas, as well as in ditches that the spilled material has migrated to.
The spiller is retaining a qualified professional to advance the clean up and environmental recovery of the incident. An ENV Response Officer continues to monitor environmental response and recovery actions.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
January 20, 2024
Multiple reports have been made of an oil sheen and strong hydrocarbon smell along the Gorge Waterway near the Craigflower Road Bridge in Victoria, BC.
The first report was made on Friday, January 19th, of a smell and rainbow sheen in a ditch on Songhees Nation land. Shortly thereafter, containment boom was placed at the ditch and at the water outflows of the Gorge Waterway. Today, the oil sheen remains visible and Songhees Nation is investigating the incident.
The View Royal Fire Department attended the scene on January 19th and the Esquimalt Fire Department attended the scene January 20th, however an immediate source was not identified.
Identifying a source of the spill remains the priority and a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) Response Officer is working with both the Fire Departments and Songhees Nation to determine the source.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.