Hydrochloric Acid Vapor Cloud Prompts Tulsa Business Evacuation

Tulsa Fire evacuated a local business early Friday as a precaution after a vapor cloud of hydrochloric acid was spotted next to a nearby railroad tank car.

Just after midnight, employees of Tulsa Recycling on North Peoria called Tulsa Fire after seeing the vapor cloud.

The tank car was located on a siding behind Brainerd Chemical next door.

Fire officials determined the tank car was empty and was in the process of being cleaned. District Chief Bennie Herring said cool early morning temperatures and high humidity levels caused a vapor cloud to form around the car during the cleaning process.

After evacuating Tulsa Recycling, firefighters secured the tank car.  

Tulsa Fire said the vapor cloud looked worse than it actually was.

"We did evacuate one business, Tulsa Recycling Company that was directly downwind and those employees were told to leave," said Tulsa Fire District Chief Bennie Herring.

Peoria between Highway 75 and Latimer was closed for over an hour.

No one was injured.