Wilmington Fire Department, State Hazmat Team Resolve Dangerous Chemical Leak

Below is a press release from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Fire Department and Massachusetts Department of Fire Services successfully handled a dangerous Hazmat incident that involved a toxic, corrosive chemical in close proximity to a highly reactive substance, said Wilmington Fire Chief William F. Cavanaugh III and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.

“While there was no danger to the public at large, the chemicals at this scene posed significant health and safety risks,” said Chief Cavanaugh.

The Wilmington Fire Department responded to the parking lot at 100 Progress Way on Friday morning following a report that a 55-gallon drum of hydrofluoric acid was leaking inside a parked trailer. Firefighters quickly ensured the safety of employees at the scene, set up a perimeter, and requested support from the DFS Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division.

Personnel soon learned that the trailer contained additional hazardous chemicals, including ammonium nitrate – an explosive substance that could react violently with the hydrofluoric acid. After consulting with Hazmat technicians who had assessed the trailer and surroundings, the Wilmington Fire Department’s incident commander declared a Tier 2 Hazmat incident, which was soon upgraded to a Tier 3 to bring additional personnel and equipment to the scene. All told, about 40 Hazmat technicians responded with specialized vehicles containing personal protective equipment, meters, neutralizing agents, and other gear.

The Wilmington Fire Department maintained incident command throughout the day, coordinating local firefighters, Hazmat techs, EMS, and other resources with input and support from senior Hazmat personnel.

Members of the DFS Joint Hazard Incident Response Team were requested to safely remove the ammonium nitrate from the trailer. JHIRT techs are drawn from the Hazmat Division and have additional expertise with reactive and energetic materials. One Hazmat tech served as the liaison with a local hospital, where the truck driver had been taken as a precaution. The Hazmat liaison role provides reliable information from the scene of an incident to the medical team treating a patient.

Over the course of multiple trips downrange, Hazmat techs in Level A suits – the most protective available – were able to retrieve the leaking drum. They found that the bottom of the container had been punctured and lowered it from the trailer upside down, stopping the leak, before assessing the remaining products onboard. Fortunately, no other damage was located.

By Friday evening, techs had neutralized the spilled hydrofluoric acid and placed the damaged drum in a larger overpack barrel filled with stabilizing material. The incident commander and Hazmat techs monitored its temperature using thermal imagery from a DFS drone. Once it was deemed safe, that barrel was handed off to a private cleanup company for proper disposal. The trailer remained at the scene until Monday, when Wilmington firefighters and Hazmat techs returned to oversee the safe removal of the remaining contents.

“These chemicals posed an immediate danger to life and health,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “Fortunately, we had seamless coordination among local and state personnel, all grounded in safety and science. Every step was made carefully, methodically, and professionally, from the first responding firefighters to the last entry team.”

Wilmington Fire Chief William F. Cavanaugh III and Wilmington firefighters coordinating resources at last week’s Tier 3 Hazmat response.

State Hazmat technicians in Level A protective suits prepare to go downrange and assess a leak involving dangerous chemicals in a parked trailer.

Wilmington firefighters stand ready as Hazmat techs lower a damaged drum containing hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic and corrosive chemical.