Hazmat Incident At Freeport Home Depot Hospitalizes 3: NCFM

FREEPORT, NY — Three people were hospitalized and 13 were evaluated for chemical exposure Wednesday after a pallet full of chlorine bleach and vinegar spilled at the Freeport Home Depot and set off a chemical reaction, officials said.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office said the pallet fell at 1:44 p.m., with the chemicals mixing in a reaction that was “making people sick.”

The Freeport Fire Department was first on the scene and received backup from a Nassau County hazardous materials team, officials said. The fire department and hazmat team worked on the scene to identify the “household cleaning type chemicals” and ensure the building was safe for re-entry, officials said.

Officials said the spill was contained and under control Wednesday just after 3 p.m., with the 13 civilians being evaluated by EMS and the three civilians at Nassau University Medical Center. No additional first responder or civilian injuries were reported, officials said.

In total, there were about 40 firefighters on the scene and eight mutual aid ambulances, officials said.