Arizona gas leak: Shelter-in-place order extended after nitric acid spill caused by hazmat truck crash

Cloud of yellow gas billowed into the air after crash in south Tucson

Arizona officials have extended a shelter-in-place order instated after a nitric acid spill caused by a truck crash in south Tucson.

The crash on Tuesday afternoon reportedly involved a truck tractor pulling a box trailer that overturned and rolled on its side and released liquid nitric acid on Interstate 10. The driver was killed.

People within a half mile of the site of the spill were immediately directed to evacuate as a yellow cloud of gas erupted from the crash site.

People within a mile of the site were directed to shelter-in-place for several hours on Tuesday. Locals were also advised to turn off their air conditioning and heating units to avoid bringing outside air into their buildings.

On Wednesday morning, the shelter-in-place order was reinstated.

“Unified Command has reinstated the shelter in place order for a one-mile perimeter around the incident,” the Arizona Department of Public Safety tweeted. “While crews were attempting to remove the load from the commercial vehicle, gassing occurred. I-10 remains closed in both directions between Kolb & Rita roads in Tucson.”

According to reporting from the Arizona Daily Star, multiple schools were affected by the crash. The University of Arizona Tech Park also evacuated, while some schoolchildren in Rita Ranch sheltered-in-place.

The Tucson Fire Department, the Pima County Office of Emergency Management, Arizona DPS, and the Department of Public Safety’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit were all working in tandem to respond to the incident, which saw orange-yellow smoke billow into the sky near the site of the crash.

The Tucson Fire Department tweeted on Tuesday evening that a portion of Interstate 10 will remain closed for the forseeable future. The Arizona Department of Public Safety wrote on its website that motorists should anticipate an “extensive” closure.

The spill comes the community of East Palestine, Ohio appears to be in serious danger following a train derailment that prompted the release of a number of toxic chemicals. Residents of East Palestine and nearby towns have been ordered to evacuate their homes as well.