Emergency crews scramble to contain small chemical spill in Quebec

KINGSEY FALLS, Que. – Environmental emergency workers have been deployed after a chemical spill in the Quebec town of Kingsey Falls.

About 500 litres of an industrial bleach splashed onto soil and into the southwest branch of the Nicolet River when a container tipped over at Cascades Inc.’s Norampac plant.

Cascades (TSX:CAS) spokesman Hugo D’Amours explained that the container smashed in the factory’s yard and about half of its contents were released.

D’Amours said emergency measures were immediately put in place to contain and clean up the spill.

However, fish were found dead over a distance of roughly 300 metres in the river.

Stephanie Lemieux, a spokeswoman for the Environment Department, says there was limited damage and there is no risk to the health of area residents.