KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — Approximately 80,700 liters of aviation fuel (about 21,320 gallons) was spilled as a result of the Nov. 1 derailment of a CPKC train along Kamloops Lake, British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and Parks says in its latest update.
An official told the local news site Castanet Kamloops that the leading theory for the cause of the 17-car derailment is a rockslide, but that remains a preliminary concept. No one was injured in the derailment, which occurred about 7 p.m. [see “CPKC derailment sends cars …,“ Trains.com, Nov. 2, 2025].
Two cars of aviation fuel released at least some of their cargo, according to the agency — approximately 68,000 liters from one car and 12,700 from the other. Three tank cars with gasoline residue are also involved, two of which remain in the lake while the other is on the slope toward the water.
Containment booms have been deployed along the shoreline, but some sheen was observed outside the booms on Nov. 4, which has been attributed to windy conditions.
Concerns remain about possible contamination of water used by private and government water systems fed by the lake, but Michael Grenier of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District told Castanet that the nearest water intakes are about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles away) and 60 to 70 feet below the surface. “Theres no indication that jet fuel has extended anywhere near that,” Grenier said, “but we all will get comfort known that the water has been tested and it confirms what we believe.”
Results of water tests are still pending.
