The cleanup of petroleum products released into Bear Creek from the April 12th fire at the Pacific Pride Commercial Fuel Station in Medford continues by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and NEXGEN Logistics LLC, with cleanup crews having collected and disposed of most of the recoverable oil in and around the creek.
Although the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and NEXGEN Logistics LLC do not have an estimate as to how much entered Bear Creek through stormwater systems and how much the fire consumed, it is believed that more than 20,000 gallons of various petroleum products, primarily lube oil, were released during the fire along South Central Avenue in Medford.
After the blaze, the Environmental Protection Agency set up community air monitors to ensure air quality is at safe levels, and since implementation, the air quality has remained healthy and changes are not expected.
As of Friday, April 15th, the cause of the Pacific Pride Fire that destroyed the Pacific Pride fuel depot in Medford as well as adjacent buildings and businesses, remained under investigation and the Medford Police Department has not made any arrests in connection to this incident.
Four building structures on Central Ave. occupied by La Clinica, Southern Oregon Printing, Sky High Smoke n’ Accessories, La Mota Medford 7, General Equipment / Hotsy Inc., and Carson Fuel Pacific Pride were damaged or destroyed by the fire.
The above ground tanks at the site remain mostly intact and contractors have been in the process of pumping out their contents. Officials expect to observe occasional sheens along Bear Creek over the next several weeks to few months, and approximately 400 feet of absorbent boom has been in Bear Creek to reduce the amount of petroleum product released to the stream.
Along Bear Creek since the fire, cleanup crews have observed decreasing levels of sheen and small quantities of emulsified oil and over the past week, some oiled Canada geese and mallard ducks have been taken in by International Bird Rescue for care. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife advise the public not to approach or pick-up any oiled wildlife and instead to notify trained wildlife rehabilitation experts at 707-689-3944.
