Firefighters Investigate White Substance in Creek

A white substance in a creek on Old Short Hills Road appears to have been paint.

Firefighters responded to an Old Short Hills Road home to investigate a white substance in a creek at the side of the house on Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m., according to a Millburn Fire Department report. They were unable to find the source for the substance in any of the area storm drains.

But they found painters on Fairfield Terrace, and there was a hose that led to a drain with paint residue, according to the report. One of the painters reported he had just cleaned a brush, and they were using water-based latex paint.

Firefighters contacted the Nutley Haz-Mat team and the state Department of Environmental Protection, who informed them to wash down the area, which was done. The painting company also was told not to wash the paint into the drain.