A chemical leak from a burning semi-truck in Tennessee has authorities working around the clock to clean up the hazardous substances. The truck was hauling organic peroxide and sodium hydroxide when it burst into flames Thursday evening, August 3, in a parking lot on McBrien Road near the RAVE movie theater just off I-24 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These chemicals may irritate the skin and respiratory tract when burned, so businesses and homes within a half-mile range of the scene were evacuated Thursday night. An emergency vehicle from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport was able to use a punching machine to punch through the burning trailer with chemicals inside to put out the blaze, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation delivered eighty tons of soil to stop the chemicals from leaking out.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the cause of the fire is still unclear. As of 5 a.m. Friday morning, the evacuation warning has been lifted and Interstate 24 has reopened. However, South Terrace Street between McBrien Road and Spring Creek Road, as well as the Eastgate Shopping Center, will remain closed indefinitely as work continues to clean up the incident. Officials said the incident cleanup work will likely last several days due to the hazardous nature of the chemicals.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper handling and storage of hazardous materials. It also underscores the critical role of emergency responders in responding to hazardous chemical emergencies. The safety of people and the environment should always be the top priority in such situations.
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