Hazardous material teams from Kent and three other fire departments responded to a chemical leak at about 11:39 p.m. Wednesday at a shipping/receiving facility in the 6200 block of South 228th Street.
A driver of a forklift hit and punctured a 55-gallon drum, according to a Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority media release. Paramedics evaluated and released the driver at the scene.
Thirty employees evacuated the building and were in the parking lot when fire crews arrived. The forklift driver was the only person exposed to the chemicals.
Once the specialized team of hazmat responders entered the building, they were able to find the leak and determine that there was no eminent danger as well as confirm that the punctured drum contained organic peroxide. The majority of the chemical was confined to the trailer it was in. Crews reported that there was only a small amount that had leaked out of the trailer on to the asphalt and nothing made its way into the building itself. The crew also ensured that there was no threat of the leak reaching any of the storm drains on the property.
The incident turned into a multidepartment response once the leak was confirmed. Hazmat crews from the Renton Fire Department, Port of Seattle Fire Department, and South King Fire Rescue responded to the call. King County Medic One and the Zone 3 Rehab unit also assisted during the incident.
The employees were allowed to re-enter the building after the hazmat team deemed the building to be safe. A company that specializes in chemical clean-up was called and on scene prior to any of the fire crews leaving.
According to the company supervisor, the evacuation of the building went very smooth and he attributed that to the annual emergency drills in which all the employees participate in. Drilling the emergency plan greatly reduced the potential for harm.
Fire officials said it’s always a good idea to have an emergency plan, for work and home. Once a plan is in place, ensure that everyone is not only familiar with it, but also has a chance to practice it on a regular basis.
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