New Westminster police are warning residents around the Pattullo Bridge to stay indoors until a hazardous material situation is resolved.
At 5:46 p.m., the New Westminster Police Department posted a statement on social media stating it was dealing with a hazardous materials situation in the 300 block of McBride Boulevard.
According to the post, McBride Boulevard is closed between Eighth Avenue and the Patullo Bridge.
The NWPD is urging people in the Ginger Drive and Victoria Hill neighbourhoods, as well as those living in the 00 and 100 blocks of Royal Avenue, to stay indoors and keep their windows closed until the situation is resolved.
Access to Queen’s Park from Victoria Hill is also closed, said the post.
We are handling a hazmat situation in the 300 block of McBride. McBride is closed btw 8th Ave and the Pattullo Bridge. If you're in Ginger Dr, Victoria Hill, 00-100 Royal Ave - please stay indoors + windows closed until it’s resolved. Access to QP from Vic Hill is closed.
— New Westminster Police Department (@NewWestPD) September 13, 2024
In a statement to the Record, Fire Chief Erin Williams said New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services crews responded to a vehicle fire on McBride Boulevard this afternoon.
“On arrival, it was determined that the burning materials were chemicals used in the swimming pool industry,” he said. “The fire was quickly extinguished, and the runoff was contained so as to not enter the storm drains in order to limit environmental damage.”
According to Williams, duty Chief Jeff Romanyk requested an environmental response company to transport left over materials, and the Surrey Fire Department Hazardous Materials team responded to ensure there were no further precautions to take.
“Traffic was impacted heavily as this occurred during the afternoon rush hour,” Williams said. “NWFRS crews remain on scene to monitor the situation."
Update: Cleanup crew on its way
Deputy fire Chief Brad Davie provided the Record with an update at 7 p.m. He said the incident began when fire crews responded to a report of a fire to a Ford Ranger on McBride Boulevard.
Davie said crews put the fire out so quickly that the vehicle doesn’t even look like it was on fire.
“The driver of the truck was quick to report that there were chemicals in the truck,” he said. “The chemicals were in the cargo area, which is where the fire was. So, we wanted to take some precautions.”
Out of an abundance of caution, emergency responders put out a warning that no one was to be within 100 feet of the vehicle.
“Then we called in some hazmat materials technicians to confirm and identify what we were dealing with. They entered the scene and did some testing. They basically came back and told us what we were doing was exactly what we should be doing,” Davie said. “We don’t want to move the truck until we can get a cleanup of all the chemicals and all the liquids that are in the chemicals, because we don’t want to put them down the storm drain."
As of 7 p.m. a hazardous chemical cleanup crew was en route to the scene and was expected to arrive within the hour. It’s estimated it will take an hour or two to clean up the chemicals, at which time the road will reopen.
“We will still have the road off-limits until we can get the chemicals cleaned up," Davie said. "That’s so we can protect the environment and not have people drag chemicals everywhere."
Davie said the warning regarding opening windows and staying indoors is being retracted. He said that was done until emergency officials could confirm what they were dealing with.
"It was out of an abundance of caution,” he said. “That was to be cautious. Because if we don’t do it and somebody gets hurt, you can’t undo that. We were just being careful."
