Experts attend chemical spill
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPECIALISTS CALLED TO GLUE LEAK
A leaking chemical dealt with by hazardous materials specialists from the fire service was a type of glue.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from across Leicester, Birstall and Coalville to the scene of the spillage in Earls Way, Thurmaston, shortly after 8am on Friday.
Also in attendance was the specialist hazmat team from Coalville fire station, who worked quickly to block off the drains in Earls Way and nearby Church Hill Road to stop the substance getting into the local waterways.
About 40 litres of the glue had escaped from the drum by the time the fire crews arrived on the scene, which was on a small industrial estate.
Both the roads were partially closed while the emergency services dealt with the spill, which came from an open container at a premises on Earls Way.
On Friday afternoon, the fire service said the substance was an emulsifying glue used in the printing industry.
John Gregory, from Eastern fire station in Leicester, said: “We had a small chemical spillage.
“It was a carelessly discarded waste container. It had a chemical in it that leaked across the pathway and into the road.
“We’ve made the area safe, the roads are reopened again and it’s business as usual.
“It was an open container used in the printing services. It was left open and carelessly discarded. We had to contain the area until we knew a bit more about what it was.
“There’s a range of different chemicals that can cause different adverse affects. This one, fortunately, didn’t cause any harm to any person. We protected the drains to protect the environment.”
Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency were contacted about the spill. Fire crews left the scene at about 10.10am.
The fire service said in its first report on the incident: “The call was to reports of a white chemical leaking from a drum onto the ground.
“On arrival, crews found it to be approximately 40 litres of an unknown substance leaking.
“Road closures were put in place on Earls Way and Church Hill Road, including pedestrian walkways.
“There are no casualties reported and investigations are currently under way to identify the chemical.
“The leak is currently contained and drains have been blocked to prevent any substance entering the watercourse.”
A later update stated: “Following specialist advice, the fire service are containing and absorbing the liquid at the scene and arranging for attendance of Highways to assist with cleansing the road to enable reopening of the carriageway.”
After the clean-up was completed, the crews left the scene and handed the situation over to the company responsible.