Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991                   TAG: 9103020433
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

50 GALLONS OF OIL DUMPED IN CREEK

District Fire Chief Winston Simmons said at least 50 gallons of what appeared to be used motor oil were dumped into a storm drain between 11th Street and 13th Street Northeast.

Most of the oil was trapped in a culvert under Orange Avenue. That oil shouldn't be too difficult to clean up - if there isn't much rain overnight and it doesn't wash into the creek, Simmons said.

Firefighters and emergency services workers set up absorbent booms and pads near the Tinker Creek bridge to soak up oil that already had washed into the creek.

The oil was floating on the surface of the creek and didn't pose an immediate threat to fish, Simmons said. "We can still see some fish swimming around down there."

Simmons said the oil slick was reported by state Del. Vic Thomas, who owns the E.J. Thomas Market at Orange Avenue and 13th Street.