A diesel oil spill is threatening the water quality and wildlife in one of Toronto's creeks, a waterway that feeds directly into Lake Ontario. According to the information reported by CityNews Toronto, crews have been working on scene to contain the chemical as concern grows over the impact on the surrounding environment.
The affected waterway is Mimico Creek, which runs through Etobicoke before heading down to the lake through Humber Bay Shores Park. Its path toward Lake Ontario placed the spill at the centre of efforts to keep the fuel from spreading further into the water.
According to the report, crews have been in the water working to contain the diesel, with booms set up to create a barrier. There are some breaks in that barrier, however, so part of the fuel has been getting beyond it and floating further into the lake. Toronto's environmental response team said the floating tubes had been out since Sunday evening.
The spill has already taken a toll on local wildlife. Dozens of birds were impacted, with a witness telling city crews that birds were covered in sludge. The Toronto Wildlife Service responded to the incident and rescued at least 50 birds.
In a statement, a City of Toronto spokesperson said it is working with Ontario's Environment Ministry on cleanup efforts and to find the cause of the spill. The response brought together municipal crews and provincial authorities at the site.
Advocates say the response to the contamination must be thorough. They called for more barriers to soak up the waste quickly, warning that it needs to happen before the diesel gets down to the lake and poisons the fish, as cleanup efforts continued at Humber Bay.