UPDATE: Cleanup underway after chemical spill and truck fire

UPDATE: The Chattanooga Fire Department says incident command has deemed the scene safe.

An environmental cleanup company, Hepaco, has been called in to evaluate the scene and begin the clean up efforts.

Residents close to the scene were evacuated from their homes for safety.

Chattanooga Fire says that their preliminary investigation indicates that an initial leak from containers inside the truck caused a chemical reaction and resulted in the fire.

Public safety agencies are working with Hepaco to support containment and cleanup efforts.

Interstate 24 has reopened and families are able to return to their homes.

South Terrace between McBrien Road and Spring Creek Road will remain closed. The shopping center will also be closed.

Cleanup at the site will continue for several days.

Residents were evacuated after a chemical fire on McBrien Road.

PREVIOUS STORY: Residents are being evacuated after a tractor trailer hauling organic peroxide and sodium hydroxide caught fire on McBrien Road Thursday night.

The Chattanooga Fire Department said in a news release that when organic peroxide and sodium hydroxide burn, they release vapors that could be harmful and could cause skin irritation and respiratory issues.

It happened near the AMC Theater in the South Terrace Plaza just off of Interstate 24.

Due to the potentially dangerous side effects of the chemicals, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for residents within half a mile of the fire.

This was posted during the hazmat incident on McBrien Road overnight, but it isn’t showing up in our feed for some reason. Piercing nozzle was used on the fire apparatus you see in the video and then foam was injected into the interior to combat the chemical fire. pic.twitter.com/hWuQfiqrAb

A crash truck from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport responded to the scene with a piercing nozzle that punctured the trailer and injected foam into the truck to help extinguish the fire.

TDOT brought 80 tons of dirt to stop any runoff as officials continue working to address environmental concerns. The EPA is headed to the scene to oversee the cleanup process.

“Throughout the night, I observed the collaboration between our local public safety agencies as they worked tirelessly both at the scene and in support at the Emergency Operations Center to contain the chemical fire and safely evacuate the many residents who were impacted..." pic.twitter.com/9L3AzlAm7l

A public shelter has been opened at the Brainerd Community Center.

Clean up will take a while and will cause major traffic delays along I-24. Commuters are urged to take alternate routes.