Tim Olk spent seven hours at yesterday’s Haz Mat Level II .
Streets near U.S. Cellular Field were closed [Wednesday], along with the CTA Red Line stop at 35th Street, as emergency crews worked to contain the leak of about 500 gallons of muriatic acid from a truck, officials said. Muriatic acid also is known as hydrochloric acid, and is widely used in industry, including plastic and steel manufacturing.
A Level II hazardous materials [alarm] was called by the Chicago Fire Department about 12:30 p.m. for the leak near 35th Street and Wentworth Avenue. No one was injured in the incident. The fire department was able to slow the leak while pouring water on the truck and using what’s know as a mobile ventilation [unit] to keep the fumes away from the field and a nearby CHA senior housing building. A second truck was brought in to offload the acid and make the area safe, according to fire officials.