From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Here is the latest information from the East Ridge Police Department regarding the chemical spill on I-24.
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Here is the latest information from the East Ridge Police Department regarding the chemical spill on I-24.
East Ridge Police Department reports that I-24 Westbound and Eastbound have reopened. All other roads remain closed.
As of 7:35 PM, per officials on the scene of this incident, evacuated residents are now safe to return to their homes.
Hazmat is being handled by the East Ridge Fire Department with assistance from the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Areas evacuated are:
- Gleason Drive to Navajo Drive
- Maple Lane to Bonnie Lassie
- Anderson Avenue from Germantown to Norma Drive
- Homes on Frawley Street
- Alice Drive
- Broughton Street have been evacuated.
Sections of Donaldson Road are closed.
The East Ridge Police Department will provide updates as more information becomes available.
FedEx has provided this statement in regards to the incident.
“Safety is the utmost priority at FedEx. We are working with authorities to address a situation involving one of our tractor-trailers this evening on Interstate 24 in Chattanooga. Please contact local officials for more information.”
PREVIOUS STORY: Stabilization of hazardous cargo is underway on Interstate 24 Eastbound following an organic peroxide spill in East Ridge.
At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, fire and police responded to a hazmat incident on the Germantown Road off-ramp from I-24 East.
A motorist spotted a FedEx tractor trailer with fluid leaking out of the back of the truck and called 911.
The interstate was shut down in both directions and homes in a 1,000 foot radius were evacuated as a precaution.
The truck had a mixed load with other chemicals being transported on the trailer, but those containers were not impaired.
The organic peroxide tote had a pinhole leak, prompting a full hazmat response involving multiple agencies.
Firefighters suited up and made entry into the trailer to assess the leak.
Marion Environmental then responded to the scene to begin securing and off-loading the leaking product. They are putting the chemical into a new tote for further transport.
They will be conducting further cleanup at the site.
Thirty-eight homes and one small apartment complex were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Residents went to the Brainerd Rec Center, staffed by the American Red Cross.
There are no injuries to report at this time.
At 7 p.m., I-24 Westbound lanes reopened for traffic.
Fire officials are working diligently to have I-24 East reopened as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Multiple agencies are working a hazmat situation in East Ridge.
A FedEx box truck has hazardous materials onboard that are leaking on the Germantown off-ramp from I-24 East.
Interstate 24 Eastbound is shut down at 4th Avenue.
First responders are shutting down I-24 Westbound at the 24/75 split. East Ridge first responders are evacuating homes in the immediate vicinity of the truck’s location.
The driver of the truck is not injured.
There are no other injuries to report at this time. A full hazmat response is underway by the CFD at the request of East Ridge FD, who has incident command.
Firefighters will be working to determine what the hazardous substances are and how to mitigate the situation.
PREVIOUS STORY: All lanes along a portion of I-24 East are closed on Wednesday evening.
According to the 911 incident log, East Ridge police and firefighters were called to a hazmat incident shortly before 4:00pm.
TDOT SmartWay cameras show all lanes of I-24 East in the area of the Germantown Road Exit, along with the exit itself, are closed until further notice.
