Vancouver’s coast guard and fire crews are searching for the source of a fuel spill reported on Sunday night at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf.

Cleanup vessels are skimming the water with absorbent pads and about 300 metres of containment boom has been placed around the wharf. An estimated 30 to 1,000 litres of diesel fuel has spilled into the water.

Authorities were called at 10:30 p.m. Sunday night in response to a strong smell of diesel fuel at False Creek. The cleanup crew, which arrived at 3:30 a.m. Monday, determined the spill wasn’t coming from land, and are now searching the water.

"Those were (where) the thickest concentrations of oil was, and from our overflight with the helicopter this morning (we) confirmed that we boomed off the correct area," Jeff Brady, a spokesman for the coast guard, told CTV Vancouver.

Officials say the spill has been contained to the False Creek area.

While the source of the spill has yet to be pinpointed, Sadhu Johnston, the city's deputy city manager, told The Canadian Press it may have originated from a boat.

Crews have also put a containment boom around a fishing vessel in the area called the Western Chief.

Most of the fuel has been cleaned up or evaporated, and crews are inspecting the surrounding areas to make sure they were not affected.

A portion of the seawall has been closed as a precaution, and Vancouver police are asking locals to stay away.

"We're encouraging people not to come down and use their paddle boards or boats just to know that this area here is out of use …. until they can get this cleaned up," said Steve Laleune, a spokesman for Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.

Johnston said crew were working to have the spill cleaned up by the end of the day. He also told The Canadian Press that there is no significant human health risk, and that residents who can smell fuel should shut their windows and turn off air conditioners.

"At this point, it’s really more of an irritant to people with respiratory issues, so we’re advising paddlers and other people with sensitivities to stay out of the immediate area," he told CTV Vancouver.

With a report from CTV Vancouver and files from The Canadian Press