UPDATED: At a recent press conference, Fire Chief Michael Gauthier said the spill is now contained. Responders erred on the side of safety when deciding to move children from the school citing nitric acid is very dangerous. He also said the cloud moved to an unoccupied section of woods, thanks to the weather and wind's cooperation.
UPDATED: According to a release from the town, the vapor cloud is a result of a nitric acid spill inside of a building, with some vapors escaping and mixing with other chemicals.
UPDATED: Students from the evacuated North Grafton Elementary School are moving to Grafton Elementary School for the remainder of their school day.
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Officials ordered a half-mile evacuation in the area of 86 Westboro Rd. after a leaking 250-pound nitric acid tank mixed with other chemicals to cause a vapor cloud.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, nitric acid (HNO3) is the most prevalent acid air pollutant in the western United States and has the potential to cause adverse respiratory effects.
Find out what's happening in Graftonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The incident is located at Dana Transport. The company's website said their liquid bulk service capability includes food and pharmaceutical-grades chemical and petroleum transport, both domestic and international.
A reddish substance could be seen billowing from a building at the site. Bystanders and neighbors were ordered to leave the premises.
Keep following Grafton.Patch.com for details.
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