A tanker truck leaking hydrochloric acid was discovered early Monday morning in Weathersfield leading to the evacuation of homes and businesses in a one-mile area.
Hydrochloric acid is flammable and explosive and can also pose serious health risks to those who come into contact with it.
The evacuation lasted for almost four hours and included State Route 422 in Girard and Weathersfield Township, Tibbets-Wick Road, as well as Washington and Jefferson streets.
Weathersfield Firefighters initially thought they were responding to a fire. However, when they arrived at 1775 North State Street they quickly learned that what appeared to be smoke was actually vapors from a tanker that ultimately leaked 2,500 gallons of hydrochloric acid.
The tanker that was holding 5,000 gallons of the chemical was located behind Predator Trucking just before 7:30 a.m. Monday morning. It led to the evacuation of 23 homes, several businesses and a total of about 75 people.