Motor Vehicle Incident McLeese Lake
Last updated on January 21, 2026Disclaimer:
- 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 14, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 260182 |
| Source | Fuel Truck |
| Nearest Community | Williams Lake, B.C. |
| Spilled Content | Diesel |
| Who is involved |
Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV), Transport Canada, RCMP, Esdilagh First Nations, Xatsull First Nations |
Response phase details
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to cleanup or manage the cleanup of a spill.
In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Parks (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
January 14
The tanker truck involved in the motor vehicle incident was confirmed to be carrying diesel only, with no gasoline on board. The estimated volume released remains approximately 3,000 litres of diesel. Response contractors attended the scene to conduct fuel‑transfer operations.
Highway 97 remained open to single‑lane alternating traffic, with additional temporary closures required during product‑transfer activities. A Transport Canada Remedial Measures Specialist (RMS) and an Environmental Emergency Response Officer (EERO) were also on site to monitor the transfer operations.
The transfer was completed successfully. Incident updates were communicated to local First Nations.
January 13
The Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV) received a report of a motor vehicle incident involving a Four Rivers Co‑op tanker truck north of McLeese Lake and Williams Lake, B.C. The tanker was initially reported to be carrying a mixed load of gasoline and diesel; however, subsequent information confirmed it was transporting diesel only and an estimated 3,000 litres of product had been released.
Highway 97 was closed in both directions at the time of the initial response. The spilled product entered a snow‑filled roadside ditch and no major water bodies were identified in the immediate area. Four Rivers Co‑op activated its emergency response plan and deployed response contractors, with additional resources requested for the site.
RCMP and local highway rescue responded to the scene, while Transport Canada engaged directly with the responsible party. Esdilagh and Xatsull First Nations were notified, and eight additional First Nations were notified via email.
