Crews called to chemical spillage
A chemical spillage gave firefighters the chance to use specialist equipment designed for major incidents such as terrorist attacks.
Chemical-proof suits and a decontamination tent, complete with showers, were brought into use when crews were called to the incident at Northumberland Optical Coatings at Boldon Business Park.
About 40 firefighters – with crews coming from Gateshead and Newcastle – were called to the scene to tackle what turned out to be a relatively minor incident.
Acting watch manager Andrew Lowes, from Fulwell fire station, said the alarm was caused by a spillage of 15 litres of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid, mixed with water, which exploded.
Firefighters wearing gas-tight suits and face masks were deployed to make the area safe.
The costly equipment was introduced by the Home Office for use in major incidents, such as terrorist attacks, but it can also be used during routine firefighting.
The full article contains 151 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
18 July 2008 1:05 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Sunderland
