Chemical spill prompts shelter-in-place order in Rohnert Park, evacuation of Straus Family Creamery

A chemical spill at Straus Family Creamery in Rohnert Park prompted the evacuation of the business Friday morning and a shelter-in-place advisory for residents and businesses on Martin Avenue.

The advisory, issued at 9:23 a.m, was in response to a spill involving a cleaning mixture of nitric and phosphoric acid after a forklift punctured a storage tank.

It’s for cleaning and sanitizing holding tanks and transfer pipes that are used for dairy products, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

About 250 gallons of acid spilled into the creamery’s front parking lot.

Police and Sonoma County hazmat personnel responded to the spill. The creamery was evacuated along with its neighboring businesses, police Sgt. Kelly Koffler said.

Officials determined the mixture was safe to wash away with fire hoses and the business had a filter system to keep hazardous materials from entering storm drains, police said.

Nitric acid is corrosive but can be mitigated using water, Koffler said.

The shelter advisory was lifted an hour after it was issued and no injuries were reported.