As children left school chemicals poured into the sky
Residents recalled seeing plumes of 'peachy' smoke rising into the air
As parents prepared to pick up their children from school emergency services rushed to the scene of a chemical spill right outside. Dramatic footage shows a thick yellow cloud of gas belching into the sky from a lorry.
Residents were urged to stay inside and keep all windows and doors closed as a wide cordon was put in place around the scene. Emergency services donned protective gear as they moved closer to investigate the spill.
Personnel from Greater Manchester Police, the North West Ambulance Service, and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) swarmed the scene on West End Street in Oldham at around 15.15 on Wednesday April 23. A mobile command unit and an environmental protection unit were also deployed to the scene.
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Residents shared the moment that they saw the "peachy" coloured gas rising into the air.
One resident said: “We just saw the smoke. I’ve seen ambulances and police and they flooded the area very quickly.”
They added: “The smoke was like a yellow peachy colour.”
Another revealed they had just been going out to pick up their children.
“When I opened the door to pick my children up I’ve seen the smoke, police, and ambulances," they told the Manchester Evening News, adding: "They acted quickly.”
A third resident shared: “During school time I just saw the gas going up. It was like 15.15 and the kids are coming out of school.”
GMFRS confirmed that specialists from Bureau Veritas, a company specialising in engineering inspection, were supporting firefighters at the scene.
A spokesperson for GMFRS at the scene told the M.E.N: “There was a strong acid poured into a truck from a site that deals with cleaning metals.
It’s reacted with the truck and created a vapour cloud which has now dissipated.
“We are now dealing with the clean up, crews are blocking drains and containing spills. There is no ongoing risk to the public or to the environment.”
Residents have nonetheless been advised to keep doors and windows shut while the clean up operation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 3.15pm five fire engines from Ashton, Heywood, Mossley, Rochdale, Bury fire stations plus the incident command unit from Rochdale fire station attended a suspected chemical incident on West End Street, Oldham.
“Firefighters are working alongside partners to make the area safe with road closures in place. The public are asked to avoid the area at this time and keep windows and doors closed if nearby.”
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