A tanker hauling 5,000 gallons of lime overturned on Taylor Avenue northeast of Marshalltown Thursday, spilling a substantial amount of its contents.
The accident took place at approximately 3:30 p.m. At first, dispatchers told first responders it was an overturned vehicle and later that it was a tanker with its contents unknown.
Before responders arrived, they were informed the contents of the vehicle was lime.
According to a material safety data sheet, lime can be an irritant, causing burns and other irritations if it gets on the skin.
Marshalltown Fire Chief Larry Squiers said it was in Green Mountain Fire Department's jurisdiction, though Marshalltown was also called because it was an automobile accident.
"It's not really considered that hazardous to humans," he said. "It will kill the grass it's on and would kill any fish if it were to get into a creek."
The potential of the spill spreading down a ditch and into a nearby creek was enough to get first responders to notify the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about the problem. Though the DNR was in contact with the fire fighters, it was unclear what the agency's role would be in the spill, if any, as of press time.
The Iowa Department of Transportation was also called to investigate the accident.
A portion of Taylor Avenue near the lime spill was shut down as crews were on scene dealing with the accident. Heavy equipment moved on scene approximately 30 minutes after the accident to help.
No injuries were reported at the scene.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
