Truck carrying jet fuel enters B.C. stream; officials mull evacuation order

WINLAW, B.C. – An emergency official in British Columbia’s Kootenay region says a tanker truck carrying about 35,000 litres of jet fuel has crashed into a creek in the Slocan Valley.

Bill Macpherson of the Regional District of Central Kootenay says officials were informed of the accident early Friday afternoon.

He says the vehicle was on its way to supply helicopters battling wildfires in the Perry Ridge area when it went off the road.

Macpherson says members of the RCMP were the first to attend the accident but couldn’t get close to the tanker because of fumes.

He says there’s no word on the status of the driver and firefighters are going door to door in the communities of Winlaw and Lemon Creek to inform residents about the incident.

He says regional officials are also discussing a possible evacuation order for area residents.