Salem Hazmat Incident: 'Mass Hysteria;' 23+ To Hospital

SALEM, MA — At least 23 people went to the hospital after a large hazmat incident at a Technology Way building. Officials expected the number to rise as people have brought themselves to the hospital. A tier 3 Hazmat response has been requested.

A chlorine leak was reported Sunday afternoon, Salem Deputy Fire Chief Alan Dionne told reporters at the scene. Officials spent more than four hours at the scene clearing it before the night shift entered. About 90 minutes later, the night shift started working, people started to report difficulty breathing, nausea, and wooziness. No fatalities were reported.

Dionne said the people who were leaving may have sparked a "mass hysteria" as the building evacuated. "There seemed to be a panic in the building ... They all exited rapidly."

Fifteen people were transported from the scene to the hospital, and three more brought themselves to a Boston-area hospital. The North Shore Medical Center said shortly after 11:30 p.m. it was treating 20 patients affected by the incident.

Officials were getting more reports of people arriving at hospitals, though Dionne did not know their symptoms.

The building at 1 Technology Way is home to a heater manufacturer called Thermal Circuits. Deputy Fire Chief Alan Dionne said the building will be closed Monday. OSHA is on scene.

"I really think things are going to progress slowly tonight," Dionne said.

Dionne said the building was testing clear of chlorine.

Fire departments from surrounding communities are covering for Salem Fire. The Lynn Fire Department said its crews are standing by at Union Hospital with the decontamination unit should they be needed.

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