North Franklinton residents evacuated, exit ramps closed after hazmat situation

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police are evacuating a one-mile area and highway exit ramps are shut down near the Scioto River, west of Downtown Columbus.

According to Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter a hazmat team was called to investigate a situation in which a trailer attached to a semi-truck was smoking Thursday morning. At around 5:20 a.m. crews were called to the 1600 block of McKinley Road in North Franklinton, near Grandview Avenue, where a trailer of a semi-truck with Hazmat placards on the side was seen with smoke exiting vehicle.

A large police and fire department presence is at the scene investigating and Geitter said it is considered a hazmat situation because the truck contains hazardous materials, 5,900 pounds of lithium-ion batteries.

Geitter said that when those batteries are "off-gassing" they can rapidly accelerate in fire growth, to the point of a possible explosion.

"We don't know the size of the fire because it is in a sealed container, but we can see that there is pressure and some smoke coming from it," he said.

Geitter added that they are methodically determining the best way to put out the fire inside the trailer and that it takes an "overwhelming about of water" to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires. A smaller amount of water may accelerate the blaze, he said, however there is no danger with respect to air quality.

"Right now we are assessing and consulting with all professionals," he said. "The evacuations are precautionary, this scenario can be unpredictable and we want to make sure everyone is safe."

The incident appears to be around the train tracks next to McKinley Avenue, which is closed in both directions as of 6 a.m. Authorities are evacuating residents within a one-mile radius around the incident as well as people in the COTA maintenance facility on McKinley Avenue.

Also closed are the following exit ramps:

• Grandview Avenue from I-670 West
• Grandview Avenue from I-670 East
• U.S.-40/Broad Street From I-70 East
• U.S.-40/broad Street From I-70 West

Columbus police officers are going door-to-door to notify residents, who can go to the Dodge Park Community Center for shelter. The Central and Southern Ohio Red Cross has also set up an area in Dodge Park where residents can meet with nurses from Columbus Public Health and ask medical questions.

Authorities are asking people to steer clear of Grandview Avenue and Harper Roads, along with the surrounding areas of Central Avenue, McKinley Avenue and Broad Street.