Shortly after 3:00 p.m. this afternoon the Auburn
Fire Rescue Department received a call from the Casella Recycling Facility
located at 15 Hardscrabble Rd. for an unknown liquid that was causing approximately
30-35 employees suffer burning throat, itchy skin and eyes and shortness of breath
when inside the building. Upon the fire rescue departments arrival all of the
employees had left the facility after they told Casella officials they did not
want to seek medical attention.
The Fire Rescue Department requested assistance from
the state Hazardous Materials Team in identifying the substance. The Haz Mat
team upgraded the response a short time later from a Tier I to a Tier II response
which would allow team members to conduct an entry into the facility for an
investigation and sampling.
At this time the facility is closed and no employees
were transported to the hospital. The Fire Rescue Department requested assistance
from the Central Mass EMS Corporation in placing area hospitals including Rhode
Island on alert for potential patients and to our knowledge no one has sought
medical attention at a hospital.
The state Haz Mat Team is on scene and preparing for
entry to the area. There is no public health concern for area residents and the
situation is contained to an area of the recycling facility. The agencies
currently on scene are Auburn Fire Rescue and Police, Auburn Board of Health,
state DEP and the state Haz Mat Team from the Department of Fire Services.
The AFRD will provide an update at the conclusion of
the incident.
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END
Contact:
Chief
Stephen M. Coleman Jr.
scoleman@town.auburn.ma.us
508-832-7800
