State inspectors with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality spent Monday, February 26 collecting water samples from Youngs Fork Creek near Rutherford Road and Georgia Avenue in Marion. On Saturday, February 24th, emergency crews were called to the area due to a possible fuel leak. When they arrived at the scene they smelled gasoline and saw a sheen in parts of the creek. They placed six containment booms in the creek at multiple locations to keep the petroleum product from moving downstream. A private hazmat contractor is working with KG’s Quik Stop, located at the intersection of Rutherford Road and Georgia Avenue, to determine the source of the leak. State workers are not sure how much has leaked into the creek. They have not seen any dead organisms or dead fish at this point. However residents should avoid swimming, wading or fishing in this section of the area until further notice and avoid skin contact with water, soil and sediment in or near the river along Youngs Fork Creek near the intersection of Rutherford Road and Georgia Avenue all the way to North Muddy Creek. Officials will continue to monitor the water, plan for control and correction of the problem and update advisories. Questions can be directed to the McDowell County Health Department at 828-652-2921.
