Residents in the Slocan Valley and Lemon Creek area have been evacuated from their homes after a tanker spilled fuel into Lemon Creek.
It happened around 4:00 this afternoon.
Barry Derco is the owner and operator of the Lemon Creek Lodge.
He says there are fires in the area, so the tanker was bringing in the fuel for helicopters dousing the fire from up above.
But he says the tanker did not make it.
"The fellow was supposed to go up one creek called Ponderosa Creek and he made a mistake and went up Lemon Creek. Lemon Creek Road has not been maintained in quite awhile and the road gave way and the truck rolled into the creek popped open and this jet fuel is running into the creek."
He says the fumes are very strong and they have been warned not to drink the water.
Meanwhile Regional District of Central Kootenay Information Officer Bill Macpherson says the evacuation is strictly precautionary.
"The emergency personnel are on site with containment booms. The jet fuel stays on the surface of the waters, but obviously residents should take precaution in regards to their drinking water and the evacuation order is more health concerns from fumes from confined spaces."
Macpherson says the evacuation could affect 800 people.
And he says, he is not worried about the oil spill and the forest fires meeting because he says the fires are far enough away from the leaked fuel.