Crash site stable after truck hauling hydrogen peroxide rolls over near Parksville, B.C.
First responders set up a detour on Highway 19A near Parksville, B.C. on Thursday afternoon after a trailer truck transporting a load of hydrogen peroxide rolled over onto its side.
Parksville Fire Chief Marc Norris says firefighters were called to the crash near the intersection of Highway 19A and Franklin's Gull Road just after 4 p.m.
"When we arrived on scene, we found a tractor unit carrying 70 per cent hydrogen peroxide on its side with a small ground fire around it, and with some product seemingly leaking from the vehicle," he said Friday.
"What we had was a small fire from the peroxide hitting the ground and a reaction," said Norris.
The truck is pictured on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (CTV News)
Firefighters quickly shut down the highway in both directions as they doused the flames.
A detour around the highway was still in effect as of Friday.
"At this point, we're just monitoring the situation as the hazmat technicians prepare to offload the truck," said Norris.
There were no injuries in the crash, firefighters say, and the driver of the truck was able to exit the vehicle on his own.
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer that's used for a variety of purposes, including bleaching and disinfecting items.
This load was bound for an island pulp mill, according to Norris.
"In Parksville we had, for many years, a trans-loading facility where we loaded hydrogen peroxide," said the fire chief.
"It was offloaded from railcars onto trucks [going to places] like pulp mills," he said.
"During that time, we had a lot of training, but we had zero incidents. This is the first incident that I've attended involving this kind of hydrogen peroxide," said Norris.
The truck is pictured on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (CTV News)
The fire chief says he's unsure how long the detour will be in effect. Crews were at the scene Friday afternoon waiting for a new trailer to arrive to load the product and ship it to its intended destination.
Once all of the chemical has been loaded and delivered, the overturned vehicle will be removed from the site. Then, an environmental assessment will take place "to make sure there's no permanent damage to the environment."
If there is, remediation will be needed.
Norris says that while some hydrogen peroxide leaked from the truck, much of it was contained in auxiliary piping, which did not break.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Backlog of airline complaints balloons by 6,395 since December travel chaos: Canadian Transportation Agency
The fallout from the December travel chaos continues, as the backlog of complaints made to the Canadian Transportation Agency keeps growing. As of Jan. 31, there have been 6,395 new complaints made to the agency since Dec. 21.

'Legitimately flabbergasting': MP raises concerns over government's quarantine hotel spending
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner is raising concerns over the federal government's spending on so-called COVID-19 quarantine hotels, calling the total spent on a Calgary-area hotel in 2022 'legitimately flabbergasting.'
Man spends 24 hours in Toronto Denny's after losing bet, raises almost $6K for charity
At first, Juan Delgado agreed to spend 24 hours inside a Dundas St. Denny’s as a consequence of losing in his fantasy football league.
Discovery in Canadian lab could help laptop, phone and car batteries last longer
A chance discovery in a Canadian laboratory could help extend the life of laptop, phone and electric car batteries.
Is working from home or the office better? Some Canadians weigh in
News that she'd be headed back to the office was very welcoming for English instructor Kathy Andvaag, after more than two years teaching from her “dark” and “cold” basement.
Looking to travel this spring? Here are some cost-saving tips
With the spring break travel season approaching, those looking to flee the cold, wet Canadian snow for sunnier skies will likely be met with a hefty price tag for their getaway, with inflation and increased demand pushing costs up.
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'
Woman detained in Syria says Ottawa is forcing her to make agonizing choice in order to get her kids to Canada
A woman held in a detention camp in Syria, along with her three Canadian children, says the federal government is forcing her to make an agonizing choice: relinquish custody of her kids so they can be repatriated to Canada, or keep them in the camp where the conditions are dire. Her children are eligible for repatriation but she is not a Canadian citizen.