Oil spill causes traffic chaos

Jun 21, 2016 | 1:40 PM

Dousing flames is only part of the job description for Nanaimo Fire Rescue.

On Monday, crews responded to a fuel spill after a delivery truck lost a load of granite slabs which hit the truck’s fuel tanks.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief Martin Drakely says crews absorbed the up to 380 litres of diesel which leaked onto Northfield Road.

“So they had to move quickly to contain it before more of it got into the environment…it was all accessible, crews managed to contain it,” said Drakely.

Drakely says these kinds of hazardous spill calls happen more often than not.

“The crews, I like to think of them as a Swiss Army Knife, usually the fire department is the one stop shop, you phone us and we deal with the response.”

Heavily used Northfield road between Highway 19-A and Bowen Road was closed for more than two hours as a result of Monday’s spill.

Drakely adds that part of the reason for the road closure was precautionary.

“Especially when temperatures are elevated outside, diesel does become flammable”

Drakely confirms that the company responsible is paying for the clean-up costs which is the protocol in these type of situations.