At approximately 6:20 a.m. this morning, the Calgary Fire Department was called to the Bow River near Harvie Passage to investigate an unknown substance in the Bow river and the Western Irrigation Canal.

Hazardous Material, Aquatic teams and Fire crews are on site, along with other City of Calgary business units and provincial agencies. The exact nature and cause of the substance is still being determined, however early analysis indicates it is a type of oil. Cleanup is underway with booms in place at the outflow of the Western Irrigation Canal. The substance has been contained to an eddy of the Bow River with some release down the Western Irrigation Canal.

As a precautionary measure, Chestermere Fire Services is setting up a boom in the WID canal near Township Road 240 to monitor the inflow of the canal towards Chestermere Lake.

Calgary Fire has advised that there is no immediate public hazard however it is asked that the public avoid the area to allow crews and other agencies to continue to investigate and contain this release.

Chestermere Fire Services will continue to work with Calgary Fire and other partners to address the situation.