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SALT LAKE CITY — Crews from the Salt Lake City Fire Department responded Sunday morning to a report of a five gallon spill of hydrochloric acid at Hogle Zoo.
At 10:51 a.m., Salt Lake City Fire Department responded to a chemical leak at the Utah Zoo. A zoo employee noticed what he described at two-to-three gallon leak of hydrochloric acid, SLCFD said. The leaked product was contained to an area in the basement of the building that has the indoor enclosure for the lion exhibit.
Officials said the lions were kept in the outside portion of their enclosure and were not affected.
The employee was evaluated on scene as a precaution and was released without being transported to the hospital.
Initial reports from the first responders indicated that the zoo would be evacuated, but only a portion of the zoo was temporally closed to visitors as a precaution. The zoo remained open to the public.
No injuries were reported.
Some of the product was washed down a drain, while a large puddle with a depth of one-quarter to one-half inch remained in the five-by-six foot room, officials said. HazMat crews entered the building and neutralized the product by using soda ash. Once the product was neutralized, the small vapor cloud in the room disseminated. With the air level inside the room not dangerous, crews used electric fans to vent the air outside.
Officials said crews are working with a representative from the Salt Lake Valley Health Department to determine the most-appropriate way to dispose of the neutralized product.
There was never a full evacuation of the zoo. Only a small area has been closed. HazMat crew are monitoring the air there. — SLC Fire Department (@slcfire) August 14, 2016
