Dow chemical plant incident

[trentbob]

Dow Chemical plant Hazmat incident starting at approximately 10:30 a.m.

George Patterson entrance at Route 413 and State Road. Entire area now is blocked off.

Unknown, ongoing chemical reaction in process. Special Recon team being sent in now. Multiple Hazmat resources sent to the scene and cover-ups for Bristol Township and Borough fire departments called out. Multiple equipment staging on Bridge Approach.

Monitor Bucks County Fire South response, OPS talk groups also check out the emergency band and Hazmat talk groups. Cover ups will use the emergency band talk group.

Two-man Recon team entering building now. If you're close enough you can monitor simplex fire ground, personally, I wouldn't get that close. Also have traffic nightmare on Bridge Approach.

 

[trentbob]

Recon team reports active fire spreading from chemical reaction and up the walls of the room.

I heard Sky Fox Chopper getting dispatched about 20 minutes ago and they have arrived and are orbiting the scene, my guess is they will be chased away to a safe distance. Monitor 135.875 and 450.2875 pl 151.4.....

 

[trentbob]

Recon team reports active fire spreading from chemical reaction and up the walls of the room. Teams have not been able to get access to the fire yet and it continues to burn. Two large squirt guns have just arrived and additional ladders and engines have just been requested.



11:50 a.m. water is getting on fire.

 

[trentbob]

Update and background.. fire is not out, 2 Man team, specially outfitted, using hand line, retreated.

These are volunteer firefighters, however, Dow Chemical Company, has a professional, paid, Fire Department called station 99. The history of this chemical plant is well known and there have been a number of incidences over the decades.

This was the location where a subcontracting company on the very large grounds of this chemical plant leaked contaminants into the Delaware River Upstream from the Philadelphia public water supply intakes causing quite a kerfuffle a few years back. I also remember a fire policeman who was first to respond to a fire at the plant and did not have a Scott pack on, he passed away rather quickly.

Okay a specially outfitted team from station 99 has entered the interior and have knocked down the fire just now.

Now there is the issue of air monitoring as this plant is in the middle of two rather busy communities of Bristol Borough and Croydon. I can remember over the decades, shelter in place warnings but hopefully the worst of this incident is over. Chief 99 attempting to isolate power from equipment where chemical reaction and Fire started.