PUBLIC NOTICE – Gin Creek

UPDATE | A professional clean up company is on site. The bike trail will continue to be closed as clean up crews work. The timeline for completion is currently unknown. Two dams have been placed along Gin Creek at Hastings Drive to prevent further contamination.

Out of an abundance of caution please continue to follow the previous guidelines until clean up crews have finished.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Emergency personnel are currently on scene of a chemical spill at Gin Creek in the area of the bike trail between Hastings and Queensway. The spill is estimated to involve approximately 25 gallons of roof sealant. The product was being applied when the unexpected rain washed some of the product off of the roof and into Gin Creek.

Responders have established containment measures in the creek and a dam has been placed to keep product from flowing further down stream. Appropriate agencies have been notified, and the situation will cause the bike trail to be shutdown from Queensway to Hastings while clean up crews are on scene.

A large impact of Gin Creek by the product is not expected, but out of an abundance of caution, the public is asked to avoid contact with the creek and creek water downstream of the spill, including areas within the public park, until further notice.

Residents and visitors should:

Avoid entering or wading in the creek.

Keep children and pets away from the creek and creek banks.

Do not fish, swim, or otherwise use water from the affected portion of the creek.

Avoid disturbing containment or cleanup equipment.

At this time, emergency personnel are continuing containment and assessment operations. Additional information will be released as it becomes available and when the affected area is determined to be safe for normal public use.

Please avoid the affected creek area and allow emergency and environmental personnel to work safely.