ARLINGTON, Va. -- As a precaution, Arlington's Department of Environmental Services (DES) is reminding people to avoid coming into contact with Lower Long Branch stream from Fraser Park to Troy Park and to keep their pets from away from the water. Private contractors are in the process of removing gasoline that entered the waterway during Wednesday morning's tanker truck crash and fire in Arlington.

"We just want to remind people avoid human or pet contact with the water while the clean up effort is underway," said John Mausert-Mooney, the County's director of utilities and environmental policy. "We're also asking the public not to disturb gasoline absorbing equipment in the stream as the clean up continues."

DES today posted signs along the stream and contacted adjacent civic associations and residential property managers (Click here to see map of area). The nearest residential communities are Avalon at Arlington Square and the Colonies of Arlington. These areas are within a mile south of the scene of yesterday's incident at Washington Boulevard and I-395.

The amount of gasoline that entered the stream is unknown. However, as reported yesterday, quick berming and containment booms installed by the Fire Department and DES prevented gasoline from reaching Four Mile Run or the Potomac River.

In consultation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the private clean-up contractors for Quarles Petroleum -- Clean Harbors and PermaFix/A&A Environmental -- are undertaking the following:

• New booms will be put into place, including a boom at the underflow dam installed near the mouth of Lower Longbranch.

• No further flushing will occur; rather, natural flushing will occur through the anticipated rainfall, with booms achieving passive capture of product. (Flushing with chlorinated water would pose a health hazard for aquatic life.)

• The new booms will be evaluated, and replaced as needed, over the next few days.