Work underway to assess if Etobicoke fire toxic spill leaked into Lake Ontario

A fire broke out on Aug. 11 at a north Etobicoke facility that stores petroleum-based fluids and chemicals. Those chemicals are still in local waterways, officials say.

Environmental workers are scrambling to contain a chemical spill that may have leaked into Lake Ontario after a fire more than a week ago at an industrial complex in Etobicoke.

A fire broke out around 1 a.m. on Aug. 11 at a north Etobicoke facility that stores petroleum-based fluids and chemicals. The blaze was out of control for much of the morning and was eventually tamed by the afternoon.

A Toronto wildlife charity then pointed out that chemicals from the site had leaked into the local waterways, forming a toxic sludge on the top of Mimico Creek. The site of the fire hosted thousands of litres of motor oil and transmission fuel as well as solvents.

The Toronto Wildlife Centre saved around 90 ducks by cleaning the substance off them. The centre also said thousands of fish, a beaver, 10 fish and a mink had died after the toxic fire and subsequent spill.

Environmental officials with the province said they were working to contain the spill and its threat to Lake Ontario.

Measures to contain the spill had been put in place — including placing booms, haybales, installing underflow dams and deploying vacuum trucks to collect the oil slurry — but heavy rain on Thursday allowed some to escape.

“Work is underway to restore containment at locations along Mimico Creek,” a provincial spokesperson told Global News.

Four boats have been deployed to Lake Ontario to assess how much material leaked into the lake and add new measures.