North Canton cleaning up diesel fuel spill in Nimishillen Creek - Canton Repository

North Canton cleaning up diesel fuel spill in Nimishillen Creek

Diesel fuel spills into Nimishillen Creek in North Canton

- Diesel fuel spilled into the Nimishillen Creek on Wednesday upstream from Ambler Drive SW in North Canton.
- Spill was reported around 7 p.m. Wednesday in North Canton.
- Officials working with potentially responsible company to clean affected areas.

NORTH CANTON – Diesel fuel spilled into Nimishillen Creek on Wednesday upstream from Ambler Drive SW, the city Fire Department says.

Fire investigator John Kleinbeck reported that authorities received a call around 7 p.m. from the 1600 block of Ambler about the smell of gas and an unknown substance floating on the creek. Crews arrived to the smell of fuel and saw a large amount of an oily substance floating on the water.

As they tried to find the source, the Stark County hazmat team, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Canton Fire Department were notified.

Crews found a possible source of the substance, Kleinbeck said. The hazmat team placed booms downstream to contain and collect the fuel.

"It is unclear the total amount of fuel that had spilled and/or what impacts this spill may have on the environment," Kleinbeck said in a prepared statement. "For the next day or two, residents may detect a slight smell of diesel fuel along the Nimishillen Creek in North Canton and Canton that will dissipate over time."

City Engineer Robert Graham, operations manager of streets and sewer Matt Morrow and a representative of the Ohio EPA are working with representatives of the company potentially involved to clean the affected areas, Kleinbeck said. Fire officials have not identified the company.

This story will be updated.