The risk of a chemical explosion has prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders in Perris, Riverside Co., CA, following a spill of toxic chemicals from a railcar.

A Hazmat team responded to the spill at Harvill and Oleander avenues, which was first reported around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and led to the closure of the 215 Freeway south of Van Buren and north of Ramona Expressway, the Riverside County Fire Department posted on Twitter.

Evacuations were ordered for a half-mile radius around the railcar, for the area north of Markham Street, east of Donna Lane, south of Nandina Avenue, and west of Patterson Ave.

Metrolink has also been affected by the closures.

Fire officials said today it could take two to three days to clean up a hazardous spill from a railcar, and there is a possibility of an explosion from the chemicals in the tanker.

Officials identified the chemical as styrene, which, overheated, could become volatile in that state. Officials said the chemical should be stored at 85 degrees, but it was last measured at well over 300 degrees.

Billions of pounds of styrene are produced each year to make products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing. Most of these products contain styrene linked together in a long chain (polystyrene) as well as unlinked styrene.

Low levels of styrene also occur naturally in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beverages, and meats.

Riverside County Fire Department Captain Oscar Torres later indicated the temperatures had cooled slightly, to 304 degrees, and getting steadily cooler – a positive sign.

An evacuation center for those affected by the spill was opened at Pinacate Middle School, 1990 South A St., in Perris.

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