UPDATE: |Chemical incident declared after ‘strong acid’ erupts from HGV and prompts road closures News

Members of the public were urged to avoid the area

A chemical incident was declared in Oldham on Wednesday afternoon (April 23) after a ‘strong acid’ being collected by a tanker then reacted with the vehicle and exploded into a ‘vapour cloud’.

A huge emergency services response raced to the incident and cordoned off multiple residential roads, with members of the public urged to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.

Video footage, previously shared by the Manchester Evening News, showed the moment the white HGV was seen with an orange substance firing out of the top of the vehicle as fire crews descended on the incident.

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Emergency services raced to the scene with cordons put in place on West End Street and Chadderton Way at around 3.15pm. A multi-agency response involving police, the North West Ambulance Service and fire crews, along with specialist hazardous teams also responded.

Fire crews respond to ‘suspected chemical incident’ in Oldham

It’s understood the suspected leak involved the vehicle and that specialist teams were sent to bring it under control using equipment and PPE.

It was later confirmed by a member of the fire service that a ‘strong acid’ poured into a truck reacted and created a ‘vapour cloud’, which had later dissipated.

A major clean up operation commended, with specialist teams in green hazmat suits seen hosing down the area. Nearby drains were also being unblocked as the spill was contained.

A spokesperson for GMFRS at the scene told the M.E.N: “There was a strong acid poured into a truck from a site that deals with cleaning metals. It’s reacted with the truck and created a vapour cloud which has now dissipated.“We are now dealing with the clean up, crews are blocking drains and containing spills. There is no ongoing risk to the public or to the environment.”

Greater Manchester Police said they were in attendance to assist with ongoing road closures, with the North West Ambulance Service sending response vehicles, HART, a duty officer and two operational commanders to the incident.

‌A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 3.15pm five fire engines from Ashton, Heywood, Mossley, Rochdale, Bury fire stations plus the incident command unit from Rochdale fire station attended a suspected chemical incident on West End Street, Oldham.

“Firefighters are working alongside partners to make the area safe with road closures in place. The public are asked to avoid the area at this time and keep windows and doors closed if nearby.”

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