MINNEAPOLIS — A chemical spill in Minneapolis closed a highway during the morning commute on Friday.
Minneapolis Fire Asst. Chief Bryan Tyner says reports of a chemical spill from the Hawkins, Inc. came in at about 8:15 a.m.
Fire officials estimated in a tweet that about 5,400 gallons of nitric acid has spilled in the area of a chemical company called Hawkins, Inc. But in a news conference Tyner increased the amount to 5,700 gallons.
About 600-700 gallons of the 5,700 gallons that spilled made its way out of the containment system in the facility and into the city’s storm drains. Crews are monitoring the drains and the only area where they have found the nitric acid has been in storm drains in the immediate area of the facility.
East Hennepin Avenue was closed between 31st Street and Highway 280 as crews worked to contain the spill.
The Hawkins building was evacuated but there were no injuries.
Nitric acid is reactive to water similar to Liquid Drano. It creates a chemical reaction when mixed with water that can cause steam and smoke.
Tyner says the facility is still closed because there is nitric acid in their containment system that needs to be neutralized and pumped out of the facility.
The Minneapolis Fire Department, the Minneapolis Pollution Control Agency and Public Works all worked on the spill.