The Thames River at Wonderland Rd. and Riverside Dr. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)The Thames River at Wonderland Rd. and Riverside Dr. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)
London

'Good progress' made clearing diesel spilled into Thames River

City crews will spend the weekend monitoring an area of the Thames River affected by a diesel fuel spill.

A crash between a vehicle and a City of London garbage truck on Wonderland Road South just north of Springbank Drive on Friday morning caused the spill. The diesel came from one of the truck's fuel tanks, which was ruptured in the collision. 

The London Fire Department and crews from the city's sewer and road operations departments were immediately mobilized to contain the spill on the roadway and a nearby storm sewer outlet to the Thames River. It was quickly found that an undetermined amount of diesel had gone from the storm sewer outlet into the water.

"Crews have made good progress to contain and mitigate the spill using absorbent booms and vacuum truck services," the city said in a statement issued late Friday afternoon. 

It was added that crews would continue to work throughout the evening and the area would be monitored Saturday and Sunday.

Area residents were advised there could be an odour from the fuel, but if it is not gone by morning they should report it through the online Service London portal at service.london.ca.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment was notified about the spill and sent a field officer to review the site, the city said.

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