Gas leak capped in Lawrence and Morningside area
Posted November 3, 2010 5:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The air has been declared safe to breath in the Morningside and Lawrence Avenue East area after a plume of sulphuric acid erupted into the sky from a nearby chemical plant.
For a few hours, Wednesday, residents of the area were being told to “shelter in place,” which means to stay inside and close the windows.
District Fire Chief Mike Strapko told 680News about the effects sulphuric acid could have on the public.
“Sulphuric acid, when it’s in the mist form, could act as an irritant so you might get watery eyes and irritated throat. Levels here would have been minimal.”
About 9 fire trucks and a Hazmat team responded to the gas cloud.
Strapko said there had been a concern the chemical cloud would blow into surrounding neighbourhoods.
“When crews first arrived they did see a white mist moving northeast, moving high into the atmosphere.”
The chemical plant was quickly evacuated and the surrounding area was shut down until testing could deem the air safe to breath.
Strapko said the chemical cloud was caused by an incident at a neighbouring plant.
“It was an overflow in a scrubber at a chemical plant just south of Coronation on Chemical Court. It was a sulphuric acid mist that got into the atmosphere. “
He added that when they are dealing with chemicals, it is better not to take any chances.
The area was cleared by Toronto Fire shortly after noon.
