Leaking fluid was the cause of a 12-home evacuation on Desmond Road in Langford on Thursday afternoon.

Langford Fire Rescue and the Capital Regional District Hazmat team were called to the scene at 4:30 p.m.

"We arrived to an abandoned vehicle that had broken down, there were nine barrels of unknown product," said fire Chief Bob Beckett.

One of the 45-gallon barrels was tipped and leaking an unknown fluid.

"Unfortunately it took a bit of time to get the assessment," Beckett said.

Hazmat members secured and capped the leaking barrel. Identifying the contents of the barrels is underway.

The area was deemed safe for residents to return home by 8:45 p.m.

Langford Emergency Support Services opened up Langford No. 2 fire hall during the evacuation. Four families stayed at the hall. If the evacuation had continued past 9 p.m. the families would have received hotel rooms for the night, said Tom Burchill, Langford ESS director.

Both West Shore RCMP and Langford bylaw officers are pursuing the file.

The truck did not have licence plates and officials were unable to locate its owner, but they know who the owner is, said Lorne Fletcher of Langford Bylaw.

Both RCMP and bylaw officers were alerted to the truck from neighbours after it had been parked on a hill for a day or two.

The early 1980s Ford gravel truck was also leaking oil. The barrels were removed on Thursday and the truck was removed on Friday.