Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a hazardous materials release at the Metro Metals Recycling Facility on NE Columbia shortly before 1:30 PM this afternoon. Employees of the facility, while performing their normal duties, punctured an unmarked and improperly discarded gas cylinder resulting in a release of an unknown gas that affected up to 10 individuals in the area. A HazMat 2 response was dispatched three (3) emergency response vehicles, the Hazardous Materials Specialty Team, the Hazardous Materials Coordinator, and 3 chiefs to have 25 members of PF&R on scene working. Quick recognition of potential health hazards led to the request of two transporting ambulances by the EMS Chief on scene brought the number of responders to 29 individuals. One individual on scene was transported to a local hospital for higher level of medical evaluation with minor injuries with all others in or around the cloud of gas released declined the need for any additional medical treatment.
Portland Bureau of Emergency Services dispatched out Portland Fire & Rescue crews to the 5600 block of NE Columbia Boulevard for a potential hazardous materials incident at 1:25 PM. Crews arrived to find 9 individuals that had been affected by the accidental release of an unknown gas from a cylinder present at the recycling warehouse. The location of the cylinder was in a large pile of cylinders to be processed and recycled. These cylinders and other metal objects are kept in an open walled covered area that is approximately 100’x200’. The volume of recyclable materials calls for the use of large bulldozers to move the piles of metal around during the processing of the metal canisters and other recyclable metals present. During this operation, an unmarked discarded canister was affected, and a cloud of green colored gas emitted from the pile of cylinders. The cylinder was pinched and the gas under pressure escaped out of the wall of the damaged cylinder and enveloped a group of individuals in the area.
Portland Fire & Rescue crews arrived to the location, established a Hot-Warm-Cold zone set up to properly address a call of this nature with the hot zone considered all area under the roof cover, the warm zone extended out another 75 feet from the edge of the roof and the cold zone anything further than the 75 feet of warm zone. All individuals working within the hot zone where in appropriate safety gear including use of their air bottles to ensure a safe respiratory situation along with the use of specialized gloves to prevent any unknown chemical from touching the skin of a responder. A medical branch with the four-person crew of a fire engine along with the transporting ambulance crews was located 100 yards away from the edge of the warm zone to have the medical evaluation area safely away from any hazard present because of the gas leak. Those that were affected by the release of the gas were able to walk on their own with no one affected to a degree that they were unable to stand and walk. It was determined that only one individual needed to be transported to the hospital after a thorough medical evaluation by professionals on scene.
The hazardous materials team used their specialized tools and training to determine the gas released was likely chlorine. This was determined because of a physical evaluation of the cylinder along with clues from their detection devices. Chlorine canisters have a uniquely identifiable fitting that was present on this unmarked cylinder. Additionally, chemical paper used in detection of pH noted a highly acidic substance, which also leads toward a chlorine gas. The team used a fan to aid in moving any residual gas in the area around to better vent to the atmosphere until no readings of any dangerous gas present on the gas monitors carried by the team. The cylinder was then moved to a secure area away from the site of the accident. The hazardous materials coordinator is working with plant management to establish a safe timeline to be able to return to the area of the release for safe operations of employees.
Portland Fire would like to thank the staff of Metro Metals for their help on this call along with the assistance received from Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications and our partners at American Medical Response. PF&R would also like to remind the public that accidents like this are avoidable and to ask that people dispose of their recyclables properly.
Source: Portland Fire Bureau