Oily sheen on Lake Merritt draws hazmat response

An oily sheen on Lake Merritt was reported Wednesday evening to Oakland fire officials, a fire captain and dispatcher said.

Someone called the fire department at 6:44 p.m. to report the sheen on the lake near the corner of Harrison Street and Grand Avenue. Fire Capt. Matthew Nichelini said:

“We see a sheen.”

A hazardous materials team responded and around 8 p.m. were placing a boom around the sheen to contain it.

Nichelini said it looked to be some sort of fuel, but firefighters hadn’t confirmed that.

Nichelini did not know how much potential fuel was in the water. He said the amount was “very small.”

Depending on what the sheen is, state officials will be notified, he said.