Toxic spill closes northbound I-5 through Seattle

SEATTLE — A toxic spill from a tanker truck closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 through Seattle for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon.

The Seattle Fire Department says the spill, originally estimated at 50 gallons, is about two gallons of a sodium borohydride and sodium hydroxide solution. The chemicals are used for bleaching pulp and wood products.

All northbound lanes of I-5 were closed just before 2 p.m. and two lanes reopened around 3:15 p.m.

Fire officials are spreading sand on the spill and are cleaning up with guidance from the Ecology Department.

Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore says the substance that spilled is definitely something a person would not want to breathe in. Crews told people to stay at least 300 feet away during the cleanup.