Dead fish surface after jet fuel spills into BC creek
Monday, July 29, 2013, 10:58 AM -
The tanker truck crash that spilled about 35,000 litres of jet fuel into a West Kootenay creek that feeds into the Slocan River may be killing fish.
Nelson resident Sarosha Stockton posted the YouTube video above, which shows the impact of the spill about 24 hours after the crash.
Environmental officer Rick Wagner says workers cleaning up the spill have been finding dead fish. Wagner says tests will be done to determine whether the fish were killed by the jet fuel, or by some other means.
A public meeting is slated at the Winlaw community centre, which will hopefully provide more answers.
Officials say most of the fuel has vaporized, but area residents are being urged to avoid drinking, swimming or using water from Lemon Creek below the crash or from the Slocan or Kootenay rivers above or below Brilliant Dam all the way to Castlegar.
A truck was carrying fuel for helicopters fighting forest fires when it crashed into Lemon Creek on Friday.
(The Canadian Press)
