The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is investigating the source of a gasoline leak that contaminated a small tributary of Carvins Creek in Roanoke County.

Roanoke County Fire and Rescue was called Thursday about 10 p.m. after several people reported a strong odor of gasoline, said Allen Linkenhoker, pollution response coordinator for the Roanoke office of the DEQ.

Fire crews located the gasoline in a creek near the parking lot of McDonald's in the 8100 block of Plantation Road. Linkenhoker said it is difficult to say how much gas was in the creek, but estimated it was between 50 and 100 gallons. It appeared to be coming from an old concrete storm drain, he said.

DEQ workers were able to contain the leak to about a 200-foot area of the creek, and are using absorbents to remove the gas.