A Canadian Armed Forces fuel tanker overturned on Northwest Territories Highway 1, spilling approximately 2,300 litres of diesel and other fluids near Kakisa, according to the latest update from the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Incident Details
The Kenworth T880 dual-axle tanker was heading northbound about 25 kilometres northeast of Kakisa at around 8:05 p.m. on Monday. The vehicle caught the road shoulder, prompting the driver to correct course, but it tipped over and came to rest across the highway. Military personnel then moved it to the northbound shoulder.
RCMP officers arrived on scene around 8:30 p.m., followed by Department of Infrastructure personnel shortly after 10 p.m. Workers transferred the remaining fuel to another tanker, uprighted the vehicle, and transported it to Enterprise.
Spill Extent and Response
Officials report that roughly 2,250 litres of diesel and 50 to 100 litres of hydraulic and other fluids contaminated the area. Initial assessments slightly overestimated the volume.
Spill pads were deployed immediately, and a berm constructed using heavy equipment to contain the impacted snow and ice. The Departments of Environment and Climate Change and Infrastructure are collaborating with Joint Task Force North and its environmental contractor to remove contaminated materials to a registered facility and evaluate the site for complete remediation.
No specific timeline exists for full cleanup, but all parties involved prioritize swift action.
