More Hot, Busy Days for Merrimack Fire

Submitted by Fire Marshal John Manuele

Merrimack Fire Rescue’s run of major emergency calls is continuing. On Monday August 3rd 2015 at 3:17 PM the Fire and Police Department’s were dispatched for a reported motor vehicle accident involving a leaking propane tank at the intersection of Turkey Hill Road and Mcquestion Road. Engine 1, Engine 2, Ambulance 1, Fire Chief Michael Currier, Assistant Chief Richard Pierson and Fire Marshal John Manuele responded. Upon arrival Chief Currier determined that there was no motor vehicle accident, however the underground propane tank in the yard of 45 Turkey Hill Road was damaged and had a large high pressure leak filling the area with propane fumes. As the house is located at the intersection, both Turkey Hill Road and Mcquestion Ed, were closed by the Merrimack Police Department. Engine , under the command of Captain Jay Marsella deployed a hand line and began dispersing the propane gas plume to keep the plume of gas from reaching an explosive concentration. Engine 2, under the command of Captain Matt Duke connected Engine 1 to a nearby hydrant and deployed a second hoseline with a remote monitor to further disperse the gas cloud.

As this was being done other personnel evacuated several nearby homes and began monitoring the area gas levels. I was determined that a local contractor had hit the weather dome of a full 500 gallon underground propane tank with a small front end loader shearing off the fill valve, and then left the scene. As there was a car in the driveway crews forced entry into the house to search for occupants and ensure there was no gas inside. The gas supplier, Bot-L-Gas was notified of the leak and they dispatched an emergency repair crew. After approximately 45 minutes fire crews were able to temporarily plug the broken line with a wooden wedge, Bot-L-Gas then arrived on scene and their crew was able to make permanent repairs. All crews cleared the scene and the roads were reopen at 5:00 PM.

On Tuesday August 4th, 2015 at 4:28 PM the Fire Department was dispatched for a reported spill of a hazardous material in the basement of the Merrimack Holiday Inn Express, 4 Amherst Road. The hotel was advised to evacuate all personnel based on a description of the incident. Engines 1, 2 and 4, Ambulance 1, Rescue 1, Fire Chief Currier and Fire Marshal Manuele responded.

Upon arrival, Chief Currier determined that the spill was caused by an accident in the hotel’s laundry room involving 2 chemicals that combined form chlorine gas, a highly toxic and corrosive substance. Engine 1, under the command of Captain Richard Gagne and Engine 2 under the command of Lieutenant Shawn Brechtel set up for an extended hazardous materials incident and began the process of containing and neutralizing the leak, Engine 4 and Rescue 1, under the command of Lieutenant Dan Newman and manned by off duty and call firefighter arrived on scene at this time and began to assist. Ambulance personnel and Merrimack Police secured the area and checked for any medical problems with the hotel guests and employees. A contractor who was working on the equipment where the spill originated was assessed for exposure, and refused transport to the hospital against medical advice. Chief Currier using the chemical data sheets supplied by the hotel was able to determine that the chemical reaction causing the chlorine to form should slow in approximately 1 hour. Fire crews in protective gear and air packs entered the laundry room and neutralized and cleaned the spilled material. After several hours of cleaning and ventilating the building air sampling tests showed the building was safe to reoccupy.

The building was released to the hotel manager and all crews cleared the scene at 7:45 PM.