Strong Odor Leads to Discovery of Major Oil Spill in Ulster County

First responders were called into action Sunday afternoon after a strong odor led to the discovery of a major oil spill that ended up contaminating the Wallkill River in Ulster County, NY.

Officials say roughly 275 gallons of an oil-based product leaked from a building in New Paltz and made its way into the river before crews were able to contain it.

Strong Odor Reported in New Paltz

According to the New Paltz Fire Department, the incident began around 4:27 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when residents reported a strong smell of oil coming from a storm drain near Main Street and Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York.

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Firefighters responded to investigate and quickly discovered what appeared to be an oil-based product coming out of a pipe where storm water normally flows out of, which was sticking up from the ground.

Leak Traced Back to Apartment Building

After investigating the source, first responders traced the spill back to a nearby apartment building on Main Street. Crews entered the building and found leaks coming from a fuel oil supply line and filter in the basement, which were connected to the building’s fuel tanks.

Because of the size of the spill, the department requested assistance from the Hazardous Materials Team from the City of Kingston Fire Department, along with the spill response team from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Oil Reaches the Wallkill River

Officials estimate that about 275 gallons of the oil-based product leaked from the building and eventually drained into the Wallkill River. Thankfully, the City of Kingston was able to deploy its boat and were able to place hazardous material booms in the river to prevent the spill from flowing further upstream.

Building Evacuated in New Paltz, NY

Following the incident, the New Paltz Building Department determined the apartment building was unsafe, forcing residents to evacuate until repairs can be completed. The DEC later confirmed that the situation had been contained and resolved, and that there are no ongoing environmental hazards related to the spill.