White Rock firefighters were called to Duprez Ravine Wednesday morning after a barrel of bright blue paint tumbled off of a contractor's truck and into the sensitive ecosystem.
Fortunately, the product – which turned the creek bright blue, alarming park visitors – was non-toxic and water soluble, fire Chief Phil Lemire said.
"It's shockingly bright blue," South Surrey resident Danielle Beck said Thursday of how the water looked when she noticed it the day before.
Lemire described the spill, which was reported around 11 a.m. July 1, as "minor." He estimated 1-1½ gallons of paint spilled into the creek.
He said the contractor was proactive in cleaning up what he could; fire crews walked the length of the creek, using absorbent pads to remove as much of the remainder.
"Between the contractor and the fire crew, it was cleaned up," Lemire said.
Beck said she was relieved to learn the paint was not toxic, and that the spill was accidental.