BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A 2,000-gallon diesel fuel spill in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood prompted a large-scale emergency response Wednesday, with local, state, and federal agencies working into Thursday to contain and clean up the spill.
The incident, now traced to a Johns Hopkins Hospital facility at 1780 East Fayette Street, began around 11 a.m. on Wednesday when a contained spill of 200 gallons was first reported by the hospital.
By 6:48 p.m., Johns Hopkins had updated the spill estimate to approximately 2,000 gallons—most of it uncontained.
Governor Moore and Mayor Scott issued an update overnight regarding the fuel spill in Harbor East.
The State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, and United States Coast Guard have been engaged in a coordinated response since approximately 2:00PM, pooling resources to evaluate, respond to, and contain the spill. The scene remains active, with representatives from various departments on site.
The diesel fuel appears to have traveled approximately 1.3 miles to a marina near the South Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor East.
The contaminated area spans roughly 100 by 250 yards, with the water visibly tinted red due to dye in the fuel.
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the response, with support from the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore. Multiple agencies are involved in the effort, including the Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore City Fire and Police Departments, and the Department of Public Works.
Cleanup is being carried out by the Miller Environmental Group, which is using oil absorbent materials, skimmers, and a 4,000-gallon pump truck. Additional contractors are being brought in to speed up the containment.
Governor Moore and Mayor Scott provided a media update on the status of the ongoing response to the diesel fuel spill in Harbor East on Thursday morning at 6:00 a.m.
Watch the update below:
Traffic in the Harbor East area is severely impacted, with closures from Central Avenue to Fleet Street. Disruptions are expected to continue into Friday, and motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Transportation Enforcement Officers will assist during Friday morning’s rush hour.
Containment and cleanup are expected to continue overnight.
Check out the initial scene from Wednesday:
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