January 1, Residents Forced to Evacuate After Hazardous Material Spill

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
1865: American Civil War — Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, burns down.

A deadly crash on an interstate highway in Tucson, Arizona, caused the closure of Interstate 10 and prompted a forced evacuation following a hazardous material spill.

The crash occurred around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday on Interstate 10, involving a commercial truck that overturned and leaked hazardous materials, per the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The truck had been hauling nitric acid, the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality said.

Soon after the liquid nitric acid was determined to be leaking from wreckage, residents within a half-mile of the crash site were told to evacuate, and those within 1 mile were ordered to shelter in place. At one point, the shelter in place order was extended to residents within a 3-mile radius.

Residents were also advised to turn off heaters and air conditioning units that bring in outside air.

By Wednesday night, Interstate 10 was reopened and officials said the affected residents could return to their homes, southeast of downtown Tucson.

The driver of the commercial truck was killed in the crash, the department said. However, few additional details have been released.

After the crash, motorists in the area shared images and videos on social media showing orange and red fumes rising from the wreckage.

Nitric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless liquid with yellow or red fumes with an acrid smell, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. It’s used to manufacture fertilizers, dyes, and explosives.

Exposure to nitric acid can cause “irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane,” per the CDC. It can also cause “delayed pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, bronchitis, and dental erosion.”

The Pima County Health Department released a guidance for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the toxic fumes from the spill.

The hazardous crash comes as Ohio residents continue to deal with toxic chemicals from a train that derailed on Feb. 3. There are still many questions and concerns over the potential health effects from the incident.

Source: AP