‘Oily’ spill at Shuswap quickly contained

NEWS — A small spill of an oily substance had the Salmon Arm Fire Department and the City’s public works department scrambling earlier this week to contain it.

The Shuswap Emergency Program reports that the spill was west of Marine Park Drive and was making its way into Shuswap Lake through the storm sewer system. It had a pungent door similar to a diesel or solvent smell, making it hard to identify.

Response “was very quick and the remaining material was quickly contained with absorbent materials,” says a bulletin from SEP. “The outlet is now reported to be flowing and clear of any substance.”

There was no sign of harm to wildlife or birds within the spill area, said SEP. Investigations haven’t yet determined the source or how it got into the storm sewer system.

Anyone with information about the spill is asked to call the Environment Ministry RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on the Telus Mobility Network.