Hazmat crews contain acid spill in Minneapolis

UPDATE: At 12:30 p.m., the Minneapolis Fire Department announced it had contained and neutralized the hydrochloric acid.

The fire department says eight people were medically evaluated on scene for respiratory irritation, with one of them being transported in stable condition to the hospital for further evaluation.

Just before noon, the Minneapolis Fire Department announced that its hazmat team had been sent to the 400 block of St. Anthony Parkway to investigate a hydrochloric acid spill.

To help with these efforts, the department said it had blocked the streets at Central Avenue and St. Anthony Parkway so crews could mitigate the spill safely.

According to a press release from the fire department, 150 gallons of hydrochloric acid were spilled after a container accidentally fell and broke.

Employees worked to create a dike and dam to prevent the spill from flowing downhill before fire crews arrived to begin containing the spill.

Wednesday’s recent rainfall also posed an issue. A chemical reaction occurs when the acid is mixed with the rainwater, making a small amount of off-gass vapors directly over the spill.

Fire crews blocked the acid from running into the sewer and had the sewer department flush the sewers.

At 12:35 p.m., the department said it would be clearing the scene and reopening the area, with the company where the spill occurred, AZZ Galvanizing Service, cleaning up the scene.