BALTIMORE (WDCW) — Emergency crews in Baltimore are working to clean up roughly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel that leaked into the harbor on Wednesday.
Maryland officials said the spill started around 11 a.m. local time, when fuel began leaking from the Johns Hopkins Hospital’s facility in East Baltimore.
Nearly two hours later, the Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to a marina in Harbor East. While investigating the spill, officials learned that the fuel began leaking into the marina from the facility, which was about 1.3 miles away.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the spill was contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge.
The Maryland Department of the Environment said the water affected by the spill had been tinged red because of the dye in the oil. Officials added that the leak would not impact drinking water in the area.
Officials said the U.S. Coast Guard and a private contractor are working to clear the oil from the water by using oil absorbent materials and skimmers that will feed into a 4,000-gallon pump truck.
During a press conference Thursday morning, officials said several geese were also removed from the water and taken to a wildlife rehab center.
“This has been a robust and truly collective effort. We have now seen 10 different city and state agencies that have been deployed,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Local leaders also said traffic would likely be disrupted amid the cleanup efforts.
“We are going to do everything in our power to restore the area as quickly as possible without compromising public safety,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
It’s unclear if any fines or penalties will be issued as a result of the spill.