35 Homes In Columbia, S.C., Evacuated After Report Of Possible Acid In Yard

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities evacuated 35 homes for several hours Tuesday after discovering what officials said could be a container of acid in a back yard. <br/><br/>Brick Lewis, a city spokesman,

Tuesday, June 5th 2007, 9:44 pm

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities evacuated 35 homes for several hours Tuesday after discovering what officials said could be a container of acid in a back yard.

Brick Lewis, a city spokesman, said there was no threat of terrorism and that authorities were using a robot to examine the container. He was unsure how large a container was discovered.

Lewis said there was a possibility the substance was muriatic acid, but declined to specify why that was the suspicion. Muriatic acid can cause irritation and burns when its vapors are inhaled.

The acid is used to etch and clean brick, tile, stone and concrete. It's also used for swimming pools maintenance.

Harold Reaves, a city homeland security official, said authorities were removing items from a hole in the back yard of the home. He declined to speculate on what they were. ``We're going to take our time,'' he said.

A resident had called authorities after learning that a suspicious substance was in her yard, Lewis said.

Police used squad cars to cordon off a two-block radius around the home. Lewis said most residents drove away, but that a bus was available to bring others to a nearby park. People were let back into their homes before sundown.