Lincoln Northwest High School goes into secure mode after chemical leak in parking lot

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A chemical leak shut down roads near Lincoln Northwest High School on Wednesday.

The truck was in the school parking lot at Northwest 48th and West Holdrege streets about 3:45 p.m., when hydrochloric acid started to leak due to a mechanical failure, according to Lincoln Fire & Rescue.

The truck driver then saw what he thought was a small fire and used a fire extinguisher to put it out, LFR said.

The school said chemical reaction caused some smoke, but there was no fire.

First responders blocked off the area and have since contained the leak.

Northwest 48th and West Holdrege were closed but have since reopened.

Northwest High went into secure mode “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a letter to families, meaning everyone had to stay inside.

The school also shut down its air systems.

Once officials gave the all-clear, Lincoln Northwest let students out of the south side of the building.

All basketball games at Northwest on Wednesday have been canceled.

Northwest said the school district’s operations team will be working through the night to clean up the area.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said it is safe for Northwest to have classes on Thursday, according to Principal Cedric Cooper.

Students who walk to school should avoid the east loop area, Cooper said in a letter. They can enter Door 1 or Door 18.

This is a developing story. Check with Channel 8 for the latest.