A hazmat spill this past week shut down stretches of road in the Red Hill area and forced crews to clean and contain the spill.
Just before 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, a tanker hauling 4,500 gallons of hydrofluorosilicic acid (a form of fluoride) spilled its load on Highway 226, near Highway 197 in Bakersville.
By Wednesday afternoon, most surrounding roads were open again, save a small stretch of Highway 197 where the spill happened. Cleanup continued into Thursday, Sept. 8.
Mitchell County Emergency Management personnel, along with Asheville Hazmat, took measures to contain the spill with sand while limiting environmental damage.
The truck driver sustained minor injuries.
Authorities said the spill happened after a hanging tree limb ripped a portion of the truck off, making a small hole through which the acid escaped.