Cleanup efforts continue on Bacon Creek diesel spill

Cleanup efforts are continuing on Bacon Creek following a diesel fuel spill Monday night.

Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses said approximately 350 to 400 gallons of fuel spilled into the creek from Baptist Health Corbin.

The fuel was held in a 500-gallon tank that feeds the hospital’s backup generator.

“It is tested every morning and that is when they had a malfunction with it,” Moses said.

Moses said the fuel first feeds into a smaller tank outside. A malfunction Monday resulted in a spill. The fuel flowed to a vent pipe leading up to the roof. Once it reached the roof, the fuel flowed to a downspout and into Bacon Creek.

Moses said Corbin firefighters were called to the scene between 6:30 and 7 p.m. when area residents reported smelling the fuel.

Cleanup crews were called to the scene and Moses said four sets of booms have been placed along Bacon Creek to stop the fuel from continuing down to Lynn Camp Creek and on into the Laurel River.

In addition a dike that has pipes at the bottom to permit the water to continue to flow, while stopping the lighter diesel, has been constructed.

Moses estimates cleanup will take several days.