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

Roanoke County Fire and Rescue crews were called about 10 p.m. Thursday after several people reported a strong smell 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 a McDonald's restaurant in the 8100 block of Plantation Road.

Linkenhoker said it is difficult to say how much gas was in the creek, but he 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 were using absorbents to remove the gas.

-- Amanda Codispoti