Phosphoric acid found along the shoreline at Biltmore Lake exploded Tuesday night, injuring two firemen, officials say.
Two residents reported seeing a canister, about 1 liter or 1 quart in size, smoldering along the shoreline of the lake near the Biltmore Lake club house and Lake Drive, said Bill McMannis, on-site manager for Biltmore Lake.
County Dispatchers received a call about 6:46 p.m. reporting a small fire, according to notes at the Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center.
The Enka-Candler Fire Department arrived on scene shortly after to investigate, but in their efforts two firemen were injured, Assistant Chief Josh Howard said.
When firefighters attempted to extinguish the material by kicking dirt over it, the material exploded, McMannis said.
“At that point, they realized they weren’t dealing with the ordinary,” he said.
The firemen were transported to Mission Hospital with first- and second-degree burns to their hands and faces and released later Tuesday night, Howard said.
Following the explosion, the Asheville Fire Department's Hazmat Team performed a test and determined the substance was phosphoric acid. Firefighters then let the material burn on its own until the fire was out.