FIRE CREWS wearing gas tight suits dealt with a spillage of chemicals.
Crews reported that an unknown quantity of ortho phosphoric acid and hydrochloric acid was leaking from drums on a lorry.
Police closed Stonehouse Lane while the spillage was dealt with.
An Ambulance crews was also in attendance though there are no reported casualties.
Incident Log
At 20:21 hrs, the incident commander reported that the lorry is carrying 360, 25 litre drums of chemical. Firefighters are looking to establish how much has spilled while a Hazmat officer (a chemicals specialist) makes his way to the scene and scientific advice is sought.
At 21:00 hrs, crews report that a decontamination unit has been set up and firefighters are standing by awaiting advice on the properties of the chemical and how it should be treated.
At 22:06 hrs, the incident commander reports that following consultation with the Service’s scientific advisor and a brief from the Environment Agency relating to water run off from the incident, firefighters in gas tight suits have begun the work of inspecting the vehicle and its contents with a view to clearing the spillage safely.
Update 22:40 hrs: Crews have been unable to determine the source of the leak. Police are arranging recovery of the vehicle and it will be taken off site by a specialist cleaning company to be dealt with.
The incident was dealt with by 23:10 hrs.
Photos courtesy of Essex County Fire and Rescue.
