Emergency services were called out to a chemical and gas leak from a lorry in Greater Manchester on Wednesday.
Video footage circulating on social media showed a luminous vapour billowing from a gas tanker HGV in Oldham shortly after 3pm.
Firefighters wearing hazmat suits and using specialist equipment worked alongside police and ambulance crews on West End Street to make the vehicle and surrounding area safe, and some nearby businesses and buildings were evacuated.
The public were advised by police to avoid the area and keep their doors and windows closed.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester fire and rescue service (GMFRS) said: “At around 3.15pm five fire engines from Ashton, Heywood, Mossley, Rochdale, Bury fire stations plus the incident command unit from Rochdale fire station attended a chemical and gas leak from a HGV on West End Street, Oldham.
“Firefighters wearing PPE and using specialist equipment worked alongside partners to make the vehicle and surrounding area safe with some nearby businesses and buildings evacuated while this took place.
“The incident has now been scaled down with no wider threat to the public while crews work with partners to decontaminate the affected area so businesses can return to the site. GMFRS are likely to remain in attendance overnight while this work takes place.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester police said officers were supporting colleagues in the fire service as they carried out work after the incident.
“The public are asked to avoid the area, and keep their doors and windows closed if nearby,” the spokesperson added.
A firefighter at the scene told the Manchester Evening News the vapour cloud was due to a chemical reaction, adding: “There was a strong acid poured into a truck from a site that deals with cleaning metals.
“It’s reacted with the truck and created a vapour cloud which has now dissipated. We are now dealing with the cleanup, crews are blocking drains and containing spills.”
