A pool chemical spill from a service vehicle shut down a busy Tucson intersection and prompted a hazardous materials response on May 7.

According to Tucson Fire Department officials, muriatic acid spilled from a pool company vehicle near the intersection of Pima Street and Craycroft Road shortly before 3 p.m. The spill resulted in road closures, shelter-in-place instructions for nearby businesses, and a cleanup effort that lasted several hours.

The intersection was closed in both directions while emergency crews assessed the situation and worked to limit public exposure to the chemical.

Witness Matt Cortez told local television station KVOA that he initially thought he was looking at a large beverage spill.

'Big boxes, bottles everywhere and there was a lot of liquid all over the street pooling,' Cortez said. 'Then the fire trucks came rolling by, so you knew it was something a little more serious.'

Cortez alerted his manager, Chris Cox, at the nearby restaurant Wings and Rice. Cox told the station that firefighters wearing hazmat gear instructed employees to remain inside the building.

'Definitely scary because we didn't know the details, just hazmat suits saying go back inside,' Cox said.

Tucson Fire Assistant Chief Barrett Baker told reporters that the chemical involved was muriatic acid.

He described the product as an irritant with an intense odor and said crews wanted to minimize public exposure.

According to Baker, some people in the area initially reported breathing difficulties after the spill.

However, no one was transported to a hospital, and no serious injuries were reported.

Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is commonly used by pool professionals to lower pH and total alkalinity levels in swimming pools. While routinely handled throughout the pool industry, the concentrated product is highly corrosive and can produce irritating fumes.

A third-party hazardous materials contractor was brought in to complete the cleanup. Portions of the roadway reopened during the afternoon, and the intersection was fully reopened later that evening.

Authorities have not publicly identified the pool company involved, nor have they released details regarding how the chemical came to be spilled from the vehicle.

No citations or enforcement actions had been announced as of press time.