Fuel Spill Saanich

Disclaimer:

• 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 27, 2024
Name	DGIR: 240412
Source	Residential fuel oil tank
Nearest Community	Saanich, BC
Spilled Content	Heating oil
Who is involved	Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), District of Saanich, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

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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. Visit the 'More information' page for other reports. 

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

February 9

On February 7th, Environmental Emergency Response Officers (EEROs) visited the spill site at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary and met with the responsible person (RP), the qualified consultant retained by the RP, and representatives from the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.

The extent of the fuel spill into the marsh was more accurately determined and mapped and small patches of hydrocarbon sheen were observed within the containment area.

Water samples from the area have been taken and are being analyzed in a laboratory. Results from this testing will be provided to all parties involved in the coming days. The situation continues to be stable and environmental monitoring activities are expected to continue over the weekend.

Further remediation activities will be discussed at a conference call next week following a review of the water samples.

Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

February 2

The spilled material appears to have been limited to a marshy area adjacent to the spill site and did not enter the main part of the lake. There have been no reports of any impacts to wildlife.

Reports indicate that all free products have been collected at this point and staff from the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, the District of Saanich, and qualified contractors will monitor impacts over the weekend.

Containment and absorbent boom will remain in place until it is certain that spilled product is stabilized.

Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

January 31

The homeowner retained a qualified environmental response contractor and is undertaking response actions. They continue to work with local authorities to clean up the spilled material.

An EERO met onsite with representatives from the District of Saanich and the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary to monitor the progress of the response work and ensure it is meeting expectations.

Later in the day, a conference call was held with representatives from EMCR, ENV, ECCC, the District of Saanich, and the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. The conference call reviewed ongoing response actions and discussed longer term recovery work for the site. Another conference call will be held later in the week.

Currently, the spilled material appears contained near the spill source and marshland. No spilled material has been identified closer to or in the lake. Response actions to further isolate the spilled material from the lake are a priority. Booms and absorbent material are being used.  

January 29

On January 27, 2024, ENV received a report of a fuel odour near Swan Lake Road in Saanich, BC.

The District of Saanich responded to the complaint. On January 29, 2024, they identified a heating oil spill at a nearby residence. Up to 600 L of heating oil was potentially spilled. The spilled material drained toward the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. The District of Saanich undertook response actions and attempted to contain the spilled material.

An Environmental Emergency Response Officer (EERO) attended the site and met with the District of Saanich, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary staff, and the homeowner of the residence. The homeowner is in the process of hiring a qualified environmental response contractor to take over response actions and undertake assessments to determine if the wetland and lake were impacted.

The EERO is continuing to maintain contact Municipal and Federal Government partners to address the incident.