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Multiple Agencies Respond to Hazmat Situation Tuesday Northwest of Fremont
Wednesday, September 15, 2021

FREMONT, IN - A portion of the I-69 And the Toll Toad was closed for several hours Tuesday morning following a hazmat spill.

The spill happened at the Pilot Truck Stop (6900 Old U.S. 27) shortly before 7 a.m. The Fremont Fire Department and Steuben County EMA were first dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, first crews found a tanker truck that was leaking from a valve with several gallons of nitrate acid on the ground. The chemical had eaten away the bolts on the valve, causing the valve to completely give out.

Steuben County EMA Director Randy Brown said “6,000 gallons of nitrate acid poured out, causing a gas plume that was extremely hazardous”. Reports indicate the acid also poured down the truck stop's driveway and into a ditch on the west side I-69, just north of the toll road.

Brown said multiple roads in the area were shutdown until about 2 p.m. due to the incident.

The truck stop was evacuated after the leak was reported and nearby residents were told to shelter in place.

Emergency response crews poured several truckloads of powdered lime on the substance to neutralized the acid.

No injuries were reported.

Fremont Fire, Angola Fire, Steuben EMS, Steuben EMA, Steuben Sheriff's Office, Steuben County Communications, National Weather Service North Webster, Fremont PD, ISP, Indiana Toll Road Crew, INDOT, IDEM, MDOT, MSP, Pilot mgmt, all assisted during this event.



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