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jeniffer2200 said:
Fire crews from Portland, Clackamas and Gresham responded to a hazardous cloud emitting from a steel cast parts company on Wednesday evening.
The vapor--originally described as orange in color--came from the Precision Castparts Corp., at the 5000 block of Johnson Creek Boulevard and drifted northwest from there, according to Paul Corah with Portland Fire.
The spill was something of a hydrochloric nitric acid combo, said Corah, and was caused around 6:15 p.m. when "A huge chunk of titanium got spilled into a vat of acid."
The initial call came in at about 5:30 p.m. and the incident was "still off-gassing" after 7 p.m., according to Corah.
Steve McAdoo with Clackamas Fire said most chemicals of that substance dissipate when released into the air.
While initial responders assessed the situation, authorities said residents within a half-mile area were notified via reverse 9-1-1 to stay within their homes and close all windows.
One resident living in Multnomah County, easily within the half-mile radius, said her home did not receive any emergency notification.
Judy Smith, who lives north of the complex at the 8300 block of Southeast 52nd, said her family has had the same phone number for 20 years and she wished they got the heads-up notice.
Two firefighters were transported to an area hospital with respiratory irritation, and the Associated Press reported two company employees were also transported for the same reason.
Hazmat crews responding to the scene could be seen setting up portable showers and Johnson Creek Boulevard--in addition to several other Southeast Portland roads--remained closed late into the evening.
According to their website, Precision Castparts Corp., is a worldwide manufacturer of complex metal components used in a variety of industries, including aerospace. The company is one of Oregon's two Fortune 500 corporations, the other being Nike.
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