Volunteer firefighters from the City of Bellbrook were called to investigate a suspicious substance in the creek today, eventually leading to investigations by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The City of Bellbrook Fire Department received a call from a resident in the vicinity of Portage Path and South Linda Drive. The homeowner advised that she noticed a dark, oily looking substance in Brewster's Creek. After a short investigation by Engine 1, Chief Scott Hall requested Bellbrook Communications dispatch a general alarm (hazardous materials assignment) to the incident.

The alarm was dispatched at 1026 hours, sending an additional engine, one ladder, one rescue with a special response trailer and a medic. Chief Hall also established a fixed command post, allowing him to oversee all operations from one location.

After firefighters searched the length of the creek, they found that the substance had tainted almost a mile and a half of the waterway, which backs up to homes throughout the city. Crews on the west end of the creek advised command that wildlife was found dead in the water. For this reason, Portage Path Command requested the Communications contact both the Ohio EPA and the ODNR.

Because the spill turned out not to be a petroleum based product, common methods used to confine spills were not applicable to this incident.

Sixteen firefighters were detailed to the incident. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

Release F99-141-1