In Baltimore, cleanup crews worked diligently on Thursday to manage and rectify a significant diesel fuel spill that released approximately 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) into the city’s harbor, as state and city authorities reported.
The incident began on Wednesday morning when Johns Hopkins Hospital announced a contained spill of 200 gallons of diesel fuel at its East Baltimore location. However, as the day progressed, the situation escalated when the fire department received an emergency call from a marina in Harbor East, over a mile away, reporting a more extensive spill. Consequently, the state, city, and U.S. Coast Guard joined forces to manage the situation. By the evening, Hopkins confirmed that the spillage amounted to 2,000 gallons.
Governor Wes Moore detailed at a news conference that over 100 personnel worked tirelessly through the previous night to contain the spill effectively. Meanwhile, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott reassured residents that there is no indication of contamination affecting the local drinking water supply.
Response efforts included the swift deployment of a boom on the water, with teams subsequently moving to skim the diesel from the harbor. Fire Chief James Wallace provided updates, noting that flushing of the storm drain system was underway to direct the spill towards areas where skimmers could effectively collect it. These efforts, he explained, would persist throughout much of Thursday. Due to a dye in the fuel, the affected water took on a reddish hue.
Wallace praised the rapid and efficient collaboration between local, state, and federal resources, emphasizing the importance of continued coordinated efforts in the coming days.
Authorities warned that the containment and cleanup operations would likely cause significant traffic disruptions through Thursday, advising the public to steer clear of the area if possible.