Pipeline Rupture Sends River of Oil into Suburban Vancouver Neighbourhood

VANCOUVER (CP) – A river of crude oil gushed into a suburban neighbourhood and spilled into Burrard Inlet on Tuesday after a pipeline was ruptured by a crashing vehicle.

The oil spill, which blackened lawns and greased the roadway, left a widening sheen on the inlet waters. “We had a vehicle hit an oil head,” said Cpl. Jane Baptista, of the Burnaby RCMP.

“There was some oil spilled over the road. We have hazmat (hazardous materials) and Burnaby Fire Department on scene. Police have assisted with some evacuation of some residents there.”

She couldn’t say how many people were evacuated.

A spokesman with the Ministry of Environment said ministry officials were also on the scene.

One man told a radio reporter the oil gushed from the damaged line for almost a half hour.

The line carries crude oil from oil tankers to a refinery.

Kathleen Dean lives half a block away from the rupture.

“All I can see is fire trucks, police cars, environmental people, lots of different authorities from all over the place are down there,” Dean said.

She said she can’t get close to the area to see any effects of the oil rupture.

“They’ve got it pretty well all sealed off so that you cannot go down there.”