Members of the Jaffray Fire Department were dispatched to the Shell gas station at around 5 a.m. due to a fuel spill.
“We believe several hundred litres of diesel fuel escaped after a weld on a connector hose broke,” said Elk Valley and South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Chief Michael Hockley.
The gas station and parking lot are closed and a vac truck is on site.
The Ministry of Environment has been notified of the spill and a safety response officer is enroute from High River.
“Our priority is ensuring there are no impacts on the aquifer or drinking water for the nearby homes and businesses,” said Hockley.
Six firefighters and three apparatus responded to the scene this morning.
The Ministry of Environment will take over the lead on the spill response and clean-up and work is underway to mobilize those resources.
Something going on in your part of the Kootenays you think people should know about? Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].