Residue from a firefighting exercise seems to be to blame for a "mysterious foam" and a fish kill on a stream near Columbia High School, the borough emergency management coordinator said Friday.
Jeffrey Helm said the foam and fish kill in an unnamed tributary at Purples Lane were reported to his office in the morning.
After an investigation by borough officials and the state Department of Environmental Protection it appears the foam was from a firefighting exercise conducted Thursday evening at the high school, Helm said.
He said some foam likely washed into a storm drain in the school parking lot and made its way to the creek, where it blanketed the water and cut off the oxygen supply to the fish.
"At this time the issue appears to be resolved," Helm said.