More than 100 wild birds and animals were found dead and more are being
rescued from Mimico Creek following fire retardant entering the wastershed
from a massive six-alarm chemical fire in North Etobicoke.
Wildlife officials are warning area residents not to eat fish from Mimico
Creek or the waters of Humber Bay Park due to a thick chemical substance
floating on the waterways, which was in the process of being sucked up by
vacuum trucks.

“Mimico Creek has had a chemical spill from a fire as well
as fire retardant entering the watershed,” officials of them
Toronto Wildlife Centre said. “These chemicals can kill
fish and make fish toxic for consumption.” They said it
can take months before the fish is fit to be consumed by
humans. Centre volunteers have been rescuing birds and
animals which they wash and try to bring them back to life
after they were covered with chemical pollutants.

The fire
started at Brenntag Canada on Vulcan Street, in the Belfield and Martingrove
Roads area, on August 11 shortly before 1:15 a.m. and quickly
escalated. Crews arrived to find several trailers ablaze at the back of a chemical
wholesaler that deals in engine, transmission oils and vehicle fluids as
lubricants and solvents.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for more than 12 hours. “The
run-off from the water used to Mimico Creek, Humber River and other waterways,”                              Centre workers said.                                                                                                                                                      “This potentially toxic substance, sitting about one-inch thick on top of the water,                                            could have a serious impact on local birds and other wildlife.”