Hazardous material spill closes I-5 in Seattle

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.