Runoff from Etobicoke chemical fire impacting Mimico Creek and Humber Creek
Runoff from a massive fire at a chemical distribution company in Etobicoke last week continues to impact nearby waterways, with the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) saying that at least 82 birds have been rescued from the area.
The six-alarm fire broke out at Brenntag Canada, a chemical distribution company located at 35 Vulcan Street, at about 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 11.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, however officials said there was possibly an explosion in an adjacent tractor-trailer.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
At the height of the blaze, more than 100 firefighters were at the scene. Crews would remain on scene for days to put out hotspots and runoff from the fire began seeping into the Mimico Creek.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the City of Toronto said that crews are continuing to work on containing the spill.
“Mimico Creek and Humber Creek have been impacted but no substances have been detected in Lake Ontario,” the statement reads.
“Crews hired by the company, Brenntag, are using multiple underflow dams, containment and absorbent booms and vacuum trucks to remove substance from the watercourses. The situation is being monitored 24/7 by Toronto Water staff.”
Video of Mimico Creek shows a thick brown substance flowing on top of the water. Few details have been released about the kind of substances in the creek or the chemicals involved in the spill.
Mimico Creek is seen in drone footage taken on Aug. 16. (Corey Baird)
In a message posted to social media Wednesday, TWC said that 82 birds have been rescued so far from Mimico Creek. The birds were “covered in harmful contaminants.”
Over the weekend, TWC said they rescued about 50 ducks, four of which have died. Thousands of fish have also died from the spill, they said.
Brenntag said earlier this week that it is “cooperating completely” with the investigation into the fire.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving “corrective action” for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.
Hundreds have applied for this 'adventurer' job in Banff National Park
Coined as Banff's 'ultimate summer job,' the Moraine Lake Bus Company says hundreds of people from across the world have applied for its adventurer position.
Dangerous brew: Ocean heat and La Nina combo likely mean more Atlantic hurricanes this summer
Get ready for what nearly all the experts think will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Students at Curé-Antoine-Labelle High School near Montreal are protesting after they say their school's administration started pushing what they call a 'sexist' dress code.
Jennifer Lopez's response to question about Ben Affleck is a reminder of their decades of love in the spotlight
Plenty of people are wondering if Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are having problems in their marriage, but one person had the nerve to ask in a public forum.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.