'Dangerous Hazmat' Incident Reported In Wilmington, Fire Officials Say

WILMINGTON, MA — Crews handled a "dangerous hazmat incident that involved a toxic, corrosive chemical in close proximity to a highly reactive substance," according to a statement from state and local fire officials.

Firefighters responded to the parking lot at 100 Progress Way on Friday morning following a report that a 55-gallon drum of hydrofluoric acid was leaking inside a parked trailer.

Firefighters ensured the safety of employees and requested support from the state Department of Fire Services' (DFS) Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division.

The truck driver was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

Crews soon learned that the trailer contained additional hazardous chemicals, including ammonium nitrate – an explosive substance that could react violently with the hydrofluoric acid, fire officials said.

About 40 hazmat technicians ended up responding to the incident with specialized vehicles containing personal protective equipment, meters, neutralizing agents and other gear.

Members of the DFS Joint Hazard Incident Response Team were requested to safely remove the ammonium nitrate from the trailer, fire officials said.

Hazmat techs wearing the most protective suits available were able to retrieve the leaking drum. The bottom of the container had been punctured, so they lowered it from the trailer upside down, stopping the leak, before assessing the remaining products onboard.

No other damage was located.

“While there was no danger to the public at large, the chemicals at this scene posed significant health and safety risks,” Fire Chief William F. Cavanaugh III said in a statement.

Techs had neutralized the spilled hydrofluoric acid and placed the damaged drum in a larger overpack barrel filled with stabilizing material by Friday evening.

The barrel was handed off to a private cleanup company for proper disposal once it was deemed safe. The trailer remained at the scene until Monday, when Wilmington firefighters and hazmat techs returned to oversee the safe removal of the remaining contents.

“These chemicals posed an immediate danger to life and health,” state Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement. “Fortunately, we had seamless coordination among local and state personnel, all grounded in safety and science. Every step was made carefully, methodically, and professionally, from the first responding firefighters to the last entry team.”