Exclusive: Cell Phone Photos Show Acid Spill Smoking In Parking Lot

September 23, 2009

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NorthEscambia.com has obtained cell phone photographs taken shortly after a hazardous materials incident began at an Atmore gas station Saturday night. The photographs appear to show smoke rising from the unknown acid as the first emergency responders arrive.

The photos were taken by one of the persons at the store at the time of the incident. She was decontaminated and treated for inhalation injuries by emergency personnel.

The incident began about 11:00 Saturday night at a BP gas station at I-65 and Highway 21 in Atmore when, according to witnesses, a man poured a liquid substance out of a gallon plastic jug onto the concrete. The substance was described  as “smoking” and “eating” concrete just outside the entrance to the store. After pouring out the liquid, the subject fled the area.

A hazardous materials team from the Poarch Creek Fire Department responded to the scene, along with the Atmore Fire Department and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue. Since officials did not know what material they were dealing with at the time, the suited up in full Hazmat gear in order to clean up the substance.

Click here for the complete story and exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos from the scene.

Pictured above and below: These cell phone photographs appear to show the acid spill and resulting smoke at an Atmore gas station late Saturday night. Submitted photos exclusively for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Exclusive: Cell Phone Photos Show Acid Spill Smoking In Parking Lot”

  1. William on September 23rd, 2009 12:45 pm

    an observer — follow the link to the original story.

  2. an observer on September 23rd, 2009 12:39 pm

    does anybody know who he is yet???????????

  3. Lynn on September 23rd, 2009 10:55 am

    I ditto everything you said BB. I don’t think the average person really understands the work, time, effort, training, etc. that each volunteer fire dept. member puts into being ready for emergencies. And if we didn’t have our “volunteer” departments, this county would be in serious trouble. I agree about the need for funding for all our volunteer emergency units. I know that our county EMA helps in securing grants for equipment, etc., but I guess that other funding has to come from either other types of grants or fundraisers by the departments. And you’re right about each county helping the other. I know that Century helps out a lot in Alabama, just as Walnut Hill does for Atmore. We’re blessed to have them all!!

  4. B.B on September 23rd, 2009 10:38 am

    these are good pictures. Folks should know the EMS / FIRE unit from Walnut is all volunters, this group of volunters is very dedicated to our community and this shows just what they will do for their neighbors. we are lucky to have people like this in our community. people who put themself in danger to help and protect others. We are lucky to have the team from poarch so close as well. this is a well trained group of professionals. they both did a great job with this. I wish there was some way to get the volunteer units funded better. this event proves that rural stations need special equipment and not just the units in the city. Good job to everyone.

  5. Lynn on September 23rd, 2009 8:44 am

    You are so right, Scary Atmore Guy!! Poarch and Escambia County both have very dedicated and educated directors and they’ve made it their goal to have this county ready for disasters such as this. I’m just glad it all turned out well with no injuries, etc.

    Thanks for the pictures, William.

  6. Scary Atmore Guy on September 23rd, 2009 7:23 am

    That is scary. Hats off to the men and women who cleaned this up without knowing that it was at first. We are lucky to have such dedicated first reponsders. We are also lucky that Poarch has all that hazardmat stuff.