Spill I-5
All lanes of northbound I-5 near the I-90 on-ramp were closed for nearly two hours while the Seattle Fire Department cleaned up a hazardous material spill.(WSDOT Twitter)

Hazardous material spill closes I-5 in Seattle

BY MyNorthwest.com  on August 1, 2012 @ 12:51 pm (Updated: 5:32 am - 8/2/12 )

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All lanes of northbound I-5 near the I-90 on-ramp were closed for nearly two hours Wednesday afternoon while the Seattle Fire Department cleaned up a hazardous material spill.

The Washington State Department of Transportation called the Seattle Fire Department around 1:30 p.m. to report a tanker-truck was leaking fluid on the right hand side of the freeway. About two gallons were spilled.

"Based on the placard that is posted on the truck, it is sodium borohydride, which I believe is used in the bleaching of wood products," explained Kyle Moore with the Seattle Fire Department.

The tanker holds about 5,000 gallons and it appears the spill stretches about 1,500 yards.

"This is a toxic gas, you don't want to inhale it. We want to protect the public," Moore said.

WSDOT reported congestion on surface streets and ramps in Seattle as well as along alternative routes during the afternoon commute.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report
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Comments (10)


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  • eddiewhite wrote...
    My commute home should be just fantastic
    August 1, 2012 1:07 pm
    Thanks buddy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bucket Dad wrote...
    I am actually thankful
    August 1, 2012 1:13 pm
    that it's hazardous waste. If it was regular garbage or recyclable materials, it'd be at least another two weeks before it was picked up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @Bucket Dad
    August 1, 2012 3:58 pm
    Hilarious!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    @Bucket Dad: It would be longer than 2 weeks
    August 1, 2012 1:23 pm
    Try forever. My garbage guys wont pick up anything that is not in a can or propped up against a can. Scattered garbage in the street, they step right over it. I think their contract specifies in addition to obscene pay, they should not be required to bend all the way down to reach something on the ground....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    shark75
    August 1, 2012 2:24 pm
    they're not street cleaners. If your neighbor is that dirty, why don't you guys pickup after your selves? BucketDad,that was funny!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Was it ???????
    August 1, 2012 4:21 pm
    Allied, Waste, Cleanscapes Who picks up in this area, Ohhhh I mean Who has the PERMIT to pick this up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Hey 333
    August 1, 2012 5:39 pm
    When the garbage originated from the garbage can they're dumping, yes they should. And at $98K a year, they should leave the streets spotless...what else are we paying them for? To drive a truck?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    About two gallons were spilled.
    August 1, 2012 7:39 pm
    Are you kidding me???

    a 5lb sack of Cat Litter at K-Mart and 10 minutes with a broom.--Problem Solved

    But NO-- This area needs all day, 15 rolling vehicles and about 50 men.

    PLEASE raise my taxes some more

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    Really TWO friggin Gallons
    August 1, 2012 8:41 pm
    that could have been sprayed off the road with a fire hose and saved MILLIONS in lost hours/wages/and just living your day...It is really time to get beyond this post 911 HAZMAT Paradigm fer cripes sake!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    a 5lb sack of Cat Litter at K-Mart and 10 minutes with a broom.--Problem Solved
    August 2, 2012 8:03 am
    Would they use Sented or Non sented kitty litter?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }