A leaking container of hazardous chemical inside a storage cabinet prompted a multi-agency hazmat response at a Jackson building Saturday morning, according to the Jackson Fire Department.
The call
Firefighters were called around 5 a.m. Nov. 14 to 234 W. Louis Glick Highway after a tenant reported an unusual odor and eye irritation inside the building, the department said. WKHM identified the building as home to DaVita Jackson Dialysis.
What began as an indoor odor investigation escalated when crews detected elevated hazardous materials readings and immediately withdrew to a safe location, according to WLNS.
The response
Firefighters traced the source to a leaking container holding a hazardous chemical in a storage cabinet. Because of the material and the potential risk to occupants and responders, the building's heating and cooling system was shut down as a safety precaution, the department said.
The Jackson Fire Department coordinated with the Adrian Fire Department and the Lenawee County Hazardous Materials Team to develop an incident action plan. Personnel wearing fully encapsulated protective suits entered the building, neutralized the spilled material and secured the affected containers inside an overpack drum, a larger container used to hold leaking or damaged drums.
No injuries
All responding personnel exited the building safely and went through decontamination, the department said. Crews then ventilated the building and conducted follow-up air monitoring, which showed conditions inside had returned to safe levels.
The department did not identify the chemical in its release. The building was turned over to the responsible party, who was advised to hire a professional hazardous materials cleanup company to complete any remaining work, according to WILX.
What's next
No injuries were reported among responding personnel. The fire department thanked all assisting agencies for the coordinated response as the responsible party arranges the final cleanup.
