Diesel Spill Tanks Sends Gallons On Oil Into Baltimore
Diesel Spill Sends 2,000 Gallons Into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
Approximately 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the Inner Harbor on Wednesday after two fuel tanks operated by third-party vendors for Johns Hopkins Hospital overflowed, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
The spill occurred near Fells Point and has turned the water a reddish hue due to dye in the fuel, city officials said. Johns Hopkins Hospital reported the leak at 11:03 a.m. By 12:58 p.m., the Baltimore City Fire Department had responded to a 911 call reporting diesel in the water near a Harbor East marina.
Governor Wes Moore addressed the incident Thursday morning, assuring the public that there is currently no evidence the spill has impacted the city’s drinking water supply.
“I want to thank those who responded immediately—especially the Baltimore City Fire Department,” Moore said. “I’m also grateful for the swift coordination between Mayor Brandon Scott, Johns Hopkins, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.”
Emergency crews from the Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Emergency Management, MDE, and the U.S. Coast Guard have been working to contain the spill. As of now, the contaminated area has been isolated to a section of the marina near the South Central Avenue Bridge, spanning approximately 100 by 250 yards.
Johns Hopkins stated that the diesel tanks power backup generators for patient care facilities in East Baltimore.
Traffic disruptions are expected in Harbor East and surrounding areas due to emergency road closures, particularly around Central Avenue and Fayette Street. The city has deployed transportation officers to manage the flow of traffic during peak hours.
Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with the U.S. Coast Guard working alongside Miller Environmental Group to remediate the affected waters.
