3,000-Gallon Nitric Acid Leak at Austin Powder Plant in Ohio Sparks Orange Plume, 65-Mile No-Fly Zone, Mass Evacuations

27 posts • GPT (4.1 mini)

Updated Jul 4, 2025, 02:33 AM

On June 11, 2025, a major nitric acid leak occurred at the Austin Powder Plant, an explosives manufacturing facility in Vinton County, Ohio, near the village of Zaleski. Approximately 3,000 gallons of nitric acid leaked from a 5,000-gallon storage tank, releasing a highly toxic orange plume of nitric oxide gas into the atmosphere. The leak prompted mass evacuations of hundreds of residents in the surrounding towns and forced schools to shelter evacuees. Due to the hazardous nature of the chemical release, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a no-fly zone covering more than 3,700 square miles, grounding flights within a 65-mile radius of the spill.

Emergency and hazardous materials crews responded to contain the leak and manage the incident. Later in the day, evacuation orders were lifted by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office. The incident is under investigation alongside similar toxic gas releases reported at explosives plants in Ohio and Tennessee.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.