MERIDEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Fire crews, Haz Mat personnel and environmental officials responded to a fire at a Meriden chrome plating facility that burned two employees of the plating company.
At about 10:50 a.m. Monday, emergency crews responded to a reported fire and acid gas release at CRC Chrome, the plating company at 169 Pratt Street.
According to Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) officials, CRC Chrome employees poured lacquer into a heated rinse tank which caused a reaction that flashed over the sides of the tank, injuring the two employees and causing the roof to catch fire.
Initial reports of the incident said that there was an acid gas release along with the fire. However DEEP officials confirmed this was not the case.
"There was no acid gas release. Hydrochloric acid was present in the building by was not released/impacted by the fire," DEEP Media Relations Manager Will Healey said in a written statement. "The area was monitored for presence of acid gas in the air, and the results were non-detect."
Fire crews had contained the fire by 1 p.m. but flames were still within the walls at that time and were not under control, Meriden Fire Chief Ken Morgan said.
Morgan anticipated a long and methodical process to take out the blaze due to the various chemicals present at the facility.
"With something like this, we’re not 100 percent sure what chemicals could react with the water or how they’re going to react. We have to be very careful about where we put water, how much we put there. When you do this in a chemical fire like this, then we have to start getting concerned with run-off and that becomes another big issue," Morgan said.
DEEP emergency personnel were present to monitor a potential run-off. By 4 p.m. the fire was put out, DEEP officials said.
New Haven area Haz Mat personnel and DEEP's Emergency Response Unit assisted the Meriden Fire Department. Crews from seven communities also helped with the situation at the site or with the city, Morgan said.
As of late Monday afternoon, the condition of the two burn victims is unknown.