A spill of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel forced the closure of the Charleston and Lamb boulevard intersection and the evacuation of some homes this morning.
The intersection was reopened about 10:30 a.m., as was the U.S. Highway 95 ramp at Charleston, according to a Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman.
Fire officials had feared that a spark might ignite the substance, possibly resulting in an explosion.
The ammonium nitrate, which was to be used for construction blasting work in Glendale, spilled from a truck that was being hauled by a tractor trailer, the spokesman said.
Ammonium nitrate can be used as a fertilizer and is explosive when mixed with fuel oil. The two substances were used in the April 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people.
Fire Department Tim Szymanski said the white powdery substance was a less volatile grade than what was used in Oklahoma City.
The tractor trailer's driver told investigators he was going too fast when turning from westbound Charleston onto northbound Lamb when his truck tipped around 6 a.m. The spokesman said the driver will be cited.
It took a city hazmat team and experts from the trucks' owner, Sanders Construction Blasting and Drilling, about three hours to clean up the spill.
Some homes and businesses within 1,000 feet of the intersection were evacuated, and the area was cordoned off.
No injuries were reported other than the drivers pride.
Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.
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