The Asheville Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. last night to assist the Saluda Volunteer Fire Department with a tanker incident on the Green River Bridge by sending the Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team, the Decon-4 unit, and other AFD personnel. Crews arrived and joined forces with local responders and law enforcement officers to secure the scene and to stop the Sulfuric acid mixture leak which was leaking at a rate of approximately one gallon per minute. Command initiated an evacuation for all individuals within a one mile radius of the incident. Crews spread over 2,000 pounds of lime over the spilled product which helped to neutralize the low ph conditions. Current reports state that no product was spilled into the Green River.

Over 30 local emergency responders, along with AFD Haz-Mat Operations, worked diligently through the night to secure this scene. Clean up operations have been turned over to Hepaco Inc., a private clean up company. The NC Highway Patrol and the Henderson County Emergency Management will remain on scene. The Harris-Marcus LTD trucking company, responsible party, sent crews to off load any remaining product from the tanker. The driver of the truck was transported to MissionHospital with conditions unknown. Reports state that a law enforcement officer was also transported with breathing difficulties. There were no other reported injuries.