Several businesses and homes in McPherson have been evacuated because of a hazardous-materials leak caused by an overturned semi-truck.
The McPherson Fire Department was alerted to the accident after 9:00 a.m. near Kansas Avenue & U.S. Highway 81, on the west side of town; emergency crews found the semi-truck leaking a hazardous fluid, now identified as hydrochloric acid.
Fire officials said the semi- was hauling 17 tons of the fluid when it turned over.
The McPherson Fire Department Hazmat Team entered the semi-, placing booms around a storm drain to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewer system.
An environmental remediation contractor is headed to the scene to handle clean-up and removal of the spilled acid.
A warming shelter for those displaced has been set up at The Cedars at 1021 Cedars Drive in McPherson.