Emergency crews respond to potential chemical threat
Photos by Josh McDonald Haz Mat crews work to remove dangerous ph levels from water bottles that contained small amount of acid that were left outside a Smelterville residence.
Just behind the jeep you'll notice two bottles (framed in red).
The two bottles containing an unidentified acid.
An early morning call turned into a full day ordeal in Smelterville after the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office was notified around 8 a.m. of an unknown substance that was left in two water bottles near the front door of a Smelterville residence.
The home, located on the 200 block of Hill Street, was temporarily evacuated as the SCSO, along with Shoshone County Fire District 2 and Shoshone County EMS set up a perimeter and awaited the Region 1 Haz Mat Team out of Kootenai County.
It was determined that the contents of the water bottles were having a isothermal chemical reaction creating pressure within the bottle, but not so much that it was threatening anything.
Sheriff Mike Gunderson was on hand to assure locals that there was no immediate danger, and that the situation was well under control.
“We don’t know why or what the purpose was, it wasn’t a bomb, it would not blow up,” Gunderson said. “It would have had to build up a lot of pressure, but there was only two ounces of liquid in the bottles.”
It was determined that the bottles contained an unknown acid and it was neutralized on scene by the Region 1 Haz Mat crew using an acid buster to remove the ph level and then allow the crews to dispose of the bottles just before 3 p.m.
The SCSO has no suspects at this time, but will continue to investigate the matter.
Anyone with any information on the matter should contact the SCSO at (208) 556-1114.