Chlorine spill forces hours-long closure of Highway 12 near Sebastopol

Gallons of liquid chlorine spilled Tuesday morning from a work truck traveling on Highway 12, forcing a lengthy closure of the westbound lane just east of Sebastopol and gumming up area traffic for hours.

The 9:55 a.m. spill happened at Llano Road as a Weeks Drilling & Pump truck driver turned onto westbound Highway 12, said Sebastopol Fire Chief Bill Braga.

The flatbed truck was carrying 72 1-gallon plastic containers of pool-grade liquid chlorine containers on pallets, said the chief, who arrived first and found dozens of broken chlorine containers littering the highway and a strong smell of chlorine.

“It looks like it shifted and all the cases came tumbling out. It was a mess,” Braga said. “There was chlorine all over the roadway.”

The truck driver had continued a short way before stopping, and containers had continued to roll off the back, Braga said.

About 36 gallons either broke completely open or began to leak, spreading chlorine across the westbound lane and the turn lane.

Westbound drivers were diverted to Irwin Lane and then Occidental Road. Eastbound drivers were able to skirt the spill.

Traffic on the busy rural highway, which connects Sebastopol to west Santa Rosa, stacked up extensively and near-crashes were reported by the CHP.

“I heard some complaints on Irwin and Occidental. It definitely got backed up,” Braga said. “I heard it was pretty frustrating for the commuters.”

The spill happened in font of the Laguna Veterinary Hospital on Highway 12 and hospital receptionist Lena Short said a few clients pushed back morning appointments until late afternoon, hoping to miss the traffic.

The detour lasted until about 1:30 p.m.

The chlorine spill drew Sebastopol and Santa Rosa firefighters, as well as various state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Sonoma County hazardous materials handlers.

The liquid was absorbed and neutralized, leaving a white powdery layer along the roadway. The broken containers were hauled away to a Caltrans yard for eventual disposal.

Initially firefighters were concerned the caustic liquid might have gotten into nearby waterways but determined it had not, Braga said.

Although diluted, the pool chlorine is considered hazardous and has to be handled in a specific manner, per government regulations.

Firefighters donned protective gear and breathing apparatus.

“It’s pretty mild stuff, but 36 gallons spread across the highway and down into a culvert, you have to be careful,” Braga said.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.