News
I-77 Reopens After Chemical Spill In Tuscarawas Co.
By: Steffany Hiett
Posted on:
UPDATE: 2:39 PM Interstate 77 has reopened, after a portion of the road was closed Monday morning because of a chemical spill.
Dover Fire Chief Russ Volkert says area fire departments and hazardous materials teams from Tuscarawas and Stark counties are still on the scene monitoring the situation.
The Dover Fire Department responded to the incident Monday around 9:30 a.m. after they were contacted by the Dover Chemical Corporation that a reactor had overheated and caused a vapor release. This resulted in off-grassing of dipropylene glycol.
Area residents were advised to shelter in place and the interstate was closed until 2:00 p.m.
"The most concerning problem at hand was the possibility of a ruptured vessel and consequently a fire," said Dover Fire Chief Russ Volkert.
Volkert said the vessel is in the process of being cooled down collaboratively with the fire department and plant personnel.
"The situation is on-going but appears to be improving," he said.
Volkert said all Dover Chemical employees were accounted for and no plant personnel or firefighters were injured as a result of the spill.
He said the department is aware of two people who were driving by who went to two different hospitals for treatment of respiratory irritation.
A chemical spill at a Tuscarawas County plant has closed part of Interstate 77, and emergency crews are urging people in the area to stay indoors.
The spill happened Monday around 9:30 a.m. at the Dover Chemical Corporation.
Tuscarawas County Emergency Management Agency officials say both lanes of I-77 from New Philadelphia to Strasburg are closed.
EMA officials say several fire departments and a hazmat team are on the scene.
Officials do not know what the chemical is, but are asking residents to stay inside and keep their windows shut as a precaution.
It is also unclear what caused the spill.