Fairfield First Responders Mitigate Commerce Drive Hazmat Situation

The Fairfield Fire Department issued a report Thursday evening, April 12, about a hazardous materials leak that occurred at a metals processing company at 515 Commerce Drive mid-morning that day. The situation caused area homes and businesses to be evacuated and disrupted traffic flow in the area. It was contained by various emergency responders by early evening without loss of life or injury.

According to Fairfield Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracy, at 10:32 a.m. the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call from an occupant at 5N Plus Incorporated at 515 Commerce Drive reporting an “outgassing of gallium trichloride” in a vapor cloud with no medical emergencies and the building being evacuated. Fairfield Fire Department Engines 1, 2, 4, Ladders 1, 2 and Car 3 responded in the initial assignment, with Engines 3, 5, Cars 1, 2, 4, and 5 responding as the incident developed.

The initial report from Engine 1 was of a visible plume emanating from the building, and all occupants were checked for medical complaints by first arriving personnel as incoming Fairfield Fire and Police units restricted any further civilian access to the area.

“Initial air monitoring by Fairfield Fire Department Hazardous Materials Technicians found no readings of chlorine” or other contaminants outside the building, said Incident Commander Assistant Fire Chief Steve Curry, but as a precautionary measure Fairfield Police initiated a Reverse 911 call limited to the immediate vicinity which advised residents to close their doors and windows and “shelter in place”, explained Deputy Police Chief Chris Lyddy.

After initial entry and reconnaissance was completed by Fire Department Technicians in collaboration with 5N Plus representatives, it was determined that “while the rear portion of the building had a visible vapor cloud throughout, it was apparently being scrubbed by the engineered air handling system designed for this purpose”  based on ongoing metering of the scrubber exhaust stacks, explained Curry.

Additional entries were made over the following several hours to shut down the process and stop the continued release of product from its container, with participation and support from the Fairfield County Hazardous Incident Response Team, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the United States Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and American Medical Response.

By approximately 6:30pm the release was contained and the scene was turned over to 5N Plus and United Industrial Services for cleanup under DEEP supervision. “There were no injuries, no medical complaints, and no apparent signs of environmental impact from this event,” concluded Assistant Chief Curry, who was the last Fire Department unit to clear the scene at 6:49pm. “The quick action and cooperation between company representatives and federal, state and local first responders kept the emergency to a minimum and the incident contained to its building of origin, and a great demonstration of the effectiveness of unified command.”