Ind. evacuees allowed home after chemical leak clears

The Red Cross set up an emergency shelter on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at the St. Joseph's School in Mishawaka, Ind. Police and firefighters evacuated a large area of Mishawaka after a reported chemical fire at an abandoned factory. / AP/South Bend Tribune, South Bend Tribune

(CBS News) MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Hundreds of people who were ordered to evacuate Friday evening after a fire in a nearby plant released a vapor cloud of hazardous chemicals were allowed to return to their homes.

The Environmental Protection Agency gave the OK for residents to return home, but will continue to monitor the air around the vacant Baycote Metal Finishing Facility in Mishawaka, CBS Affiliate WSBT reports.

Firefighters said the building has been vacant for years but the EPA was cleaning up the chemicals inside.

Some of those chemicals, including cyanide, self-combusted about 8 p.m. on Friday, starting a fire. After the fire was extinguished, Mishawaka Batallion Chief Jim Cocquyt told WSBT a low-hanging vapor cloud was spotted.

Officials said some residents reported skin irritation and burning eyes. Two people were checked out at local hospitals, but there were no serious injuries.

The area includes about 50 homes, including an assisted living center. About 200 people were evacuated, with most going to stay with family and friends. About 35 people sought shelter at the fire station and an elementary school equipped by the Red Cross.

Officials said there were low levels of cyanide in the vacant building at 1302 Industrial Drive. However, there was no cyanide near surrounding homes.

At 10:45 p.m., Cocquyt said the vapor cloud had mostly dissipated, but people in the reduced evacuation area were still not allowed to return to their homes.

On Saturday morning the EPA was still monitoring the building and its surroundings, and will continue to do so for the next several days.

[newsjunkie_56]

safetyguy has it right.....I work in a local anodizing plant (which is what Baycoat was when it was in operation.....a rather large plant with about 80 employees....which IS large for an anodizing company)and there are a multitude of chemicals that we use in the coarse of our everyday work. Our coating goes on everything from luggage rack rails to sports equipment to military products to medicical instruments. We are highly trained in their use as well as the dangers involved. Many chemicals do not mix well and if combined can result in a lethal gas / vapor cloud. This is what happened here at the former Baycoat site. Fortunately all the proper steps were taken and no one was seriously injured and there were no fatalities. Good job Mishawaka Fire Department!!

[safetyguysoca]

Incidents like this, which are not all that uncommon, as well as a variety of other chemical releases that can and do happen across the country frequently, remind us of the potential dangers imposed on the community, 1st responders and the environment by the presence of hazardous chemicals made/used/stored/transported by industry. While there is no doubt that chemicals are necessary and provide us with many useful products, the potential dangers are real and communities should be aware of them and prepare. The LEPC, local hazmat organizations and local industries should investigate the acquisition and use of commercially available technologies (specialized software and hardware) that specifically address chemical releases and allow emergency management and response personnel to plan for and more effectively respond to actual chemical emergencies. Two good articles to read are Chemical Emergencies: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow published in EHS Today, a Penton Media publication, Feb 1, 2010 and 10 Things You Should Know Before Buying Hazmat/Chemical Emergency Technologies, written by Chris Cowles and also published in EHS Today by Penton Media November 30, 2011. Both articles are also posted on the EHS Today website.