Regina oil spill occurred on private property: fire marshal

More information is coming to light about the weekend’s oil spill in north Regina.

Fire Marshal Randy Ryba said the spill occurred on private property on the 300 block of Quebec Street, not a back alley as the city initially reported to media.

The vessel, which held up to 1,000 litres of oil, began leaking sometime on Saturday night. Fire crews received the call Sunday morning.

The regulations that govern the safe handling and storage of flammable and combustible liquids is under the fire marshal’s authority under the National Fire Code of Canada and the Fire Safety Act of Saskatchewan.

The challenge is that many times owners of such tanks, drums or vessels don’t inform authorities of their existence.

“The problem is they don’t let us know so we never know where these tanks or vessels are until obviously this has happened and we end up with contaminants on the property and down our domestic sewer system,” Ryba said.

In this case, the City of Regina’s environmental department is taking the lead and is still investigating who owns the property and tank and what fines or penalties can be imposed.

The oil went into a storm channel, but the city is confident through containment it did not reach Wascana Creek or the water system.