State investigating 2,000-gallon oil spill near Clayton High School

The National Response Center said 2000 gallons of the fuel poured into a creek near Main Street behind Clayton High School.

Rain from Hurricane Ian caused the kerosene to spread across the community along the U.S. 70 Business corridor, town officials said.

"The private entity immediately contacted a professional hazmat clean-up company that was dispatched at approximately 12 p.m. to clean up the area," according to a statement from the town of Clayton.

An employee at Monster Indoor Batting Cages on West Main Street, said fuel was flowing "inches deep" from a tank out of a nearby oil and gas company.

Town officials have not confirmed which company is responsible for the spill, but T.R. Lee Oil & LP Gas Company is at the corner of West Main Street and North Robertson Street.

A WRAL News crew stopped by T R Lee Oil & LP Gas Company and gave people inside several opportunities for an interview but they declined, though they said they have nothing to hide and they’ve been working with investigators and the local fire department.

Workers at the company could be seen putting down bushels of hay inside where kerosene spilled.

Many residents nearby declined to speak with WRAL News and said they were afraid to go on camera out of fears of retaliation from the owners of the company where the spill originated.

The common concern among them all though was the smell and the safety risks posed for residents and students attending nearby Clayton High School.

A professional hazmat team was working around the clock Sunday to help with cleanup efforts following the kerosene spill. Barriers could be seen in the creek to soak up remnants of the fuel.

Residents didn’t shy away from sharing their concerns online.

One user commented on our WRAL Facebook page stating: “hate to see this happen near where I attended high school. The students there at Clayton High are like family to me.”

Another user shared a message calling for accountability from the oil company and town officials. She claims both did not respond in a timely matter.

In a statement, town officials said the company is working "around the clock" to clean up the spill and the "health and safety of residents remains a top priority."

WRAL News has reached out to T.R. Lee Oil & LP Gas Company for comment on this story.