Road closure in affect
Services on scene
Use alternative routes
Expect delays
Yellow smoke from the building
The company is Ecowise
Fire on the scene
Make pumps 3 and more hazmat techs as well as DRM EVACUATION IN PROGRESS
According to another group, it's dangerous trying to evacuate area.
Fyi
Montague Drive will be closed in the direction of Koeberg Road. The entire Montague Drive is likely to be closed off as well as side roads.
Large Nitric acid plume from the factory
The “yellow/orange” smoke description aligns with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) / mixed NOx produced when nitric acid is heated, reacts, or decomposes during a fire or incompatible mixing.
News reports today specifically describe a nitric acid spill/reaction with dangerous fumes and evacuations/road closures at Montague Drive & Link Road, Montague Gardens.
- Nitric acid (HNO3) is a highly corrosive mineral acid used in industrial cleaning, metal treatment, and chemical processing.
- In heat/fire conditions, or with certain contaminants, it can generate NOx gases, notably NO2, which is commonly seen as yellow to orange-brown fume.
- Key point: the primary airborne hazard is often the NOx plume, not just liquid acid splashes.
Principal risks to people (acute):
- Inhalation (highest risk in a plume)
- Severe respiratory irritant: throat/chest burning, cough, bronchospasm.
- Delayed lung injury is the trap: NO2 exposure can cause symptoms that worsen hours later (chemical pneumonitis / pulmonary edema risk).
- Higher risk for: asthma/COPD, elderly, children, anyone with cardiac/respiratory disease.
- Contact / eyes (if aerosol or droplets)
- Corrosive burns to skin/eyes; eye exposure is an emergency.
Secondary hazards
- Nitric acid is a strong oxidizer; can intensify fire behavior depending on what else is present.
- Reactivity with some materials can increase gas generation.
If you are near the area
- Do not go there; avoid Montague Drive/Link Road and surrounding side roads as instructed.
- If you are already nearby and see/smell fumes:
- Move crosswind or upwind (not downwind) and increase distance immediately.
- Avoid low-lying areas (gases can concentrate).
- Do not attempt to “go look”; keep bystanders away.
If you are indoors in the broader vicinity
- If authorities have not ordered an evacuation for your block/complex, shelter-in-place is often safer initially for short-duration plumes:
- Go inside, close windows/doors, seal obvious gaps.
- Switch off fans/air-cons that pull outside air in.
- Monitor official City/Emergency Services updates (not only WhatsApp).
If you are told to evacuate
Follow the specific route and direction provided by incident command (they will base it on wind and monitoring).
- Take essentials; avoid driving into the visible plume.
Advice:
- Treat the yellow/orange plume as NOx from nitric acid—avoid the area.
- Do not self-deploy to watch/film.
- If nearby: go indoors / close up / HVAC off unless instructed to evacuate.
- If exposed: symptoms can be delayed—seek medical review if any breathing irritation occurs.
- Follow City/Emergency Services instructions for closures/evac routes.
[Addional Info via Stan Bezuidenhout]