SKOKIE, ILLINOIS — A semi-truck leaking sodium bisulfite shut down a portion of the northbound Edens Expressway in Skokie early Monday morning, triggering a Hazardous Materials Box Alarm and bringing in mutual aid from 11 neighboring fire departments as crews worked to offload the remaining chemical onto another truck.
The Skokie Fire Department responded at approximately 5:54 a.m. to the 8900 block of northbound I-94 after reports of a semi leaking hazardous material. Illinois State Police also responded just after 6 a.m. to the northbound I-94 ramp from Dempster Street. Upon arrival, crews found liquid leaking from the rear of the truck, identified as sodium bisulfite — an inorganic compound commonly used in food processing, photography, and other industrial applications. No injuries were reported. Skokie fire officials said there was no immediate hazard to individuals in the surrounding area.
The incident was upgraded to a Hazardous Materials Box Alarm, bringing in mutual aid from Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Wilmette, and the MABAS Division 3 Hazardous Materials Response Team.
As of 10:30 a.m., the northbound Edens Expressway remained partially closed as crews continued offloading the remaining liquid onto a second semi-truck. Skokie Deputy Fire Chief Adam Pease said mitigation efforts were expected to continue into the early afternoon. The cause of the leak remains under investigation.
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