Hazmat situation at Amazon facility shuts down I-10 in west Phoenix

PHOENIX — Emergency crews dealt with a hazardous material incident at an Amazon facility Thursday morning that temporarily closed Interstate 10 in west Phoenix.

Multiple roads in the area were shut down before 10 a.m., including both directions of Interstate 10 between 67th and 83rd avenues.

Fire responders got the hazmat situation under control around 11:30 a.m., when the freeway started reopening.

“We’re doing a half-mile north of McDowell and a half-mile east of 75th Avenue, we will be shutting down those roads,” Phoenix Fire Capt. Todd Keller told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The Amazon Fulfillment Center at 75th Avenue and Roosevelt Street is the site of the chemical leak.

News helicopter footage showed smoke spewing from what appeared to be a parked truck trailer. The fire department said the leaking chemical had not been identified.

Businesses in the vicinity were evacuated, Keller said, and residents of an apartment complex just north of McDowell Road were asked to shelter in place through reverse 911 alerts.

“Evacuations have been put in effect for all surrounding business … a highly industrial area, so, many businesses, people have been evacuated and sent home,” Keller said.

Due to a hazardous materials incident in the area of 75th Avenue and Roosevelt, there will be multiple road restrictions. Please avoid the area. #phxtraffic pic.twitter.com/tpybdVPgPb

— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) July 16, 2020

Keller said people north of I-10, about a half-mile from of the incident, reported a chemical smell.

Authorities said 60-70 emergency personnel were on the scene and no injuries have been reported.

No other information was immediately available.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup and Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.

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