WFD and HAZMAT team respond after acid waste drum ruptures

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Fire Department and a HAZMAT team responded to Alcami on Tuesday morning after a drum holding acid waste ruptured.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Sammy Flowers, the call came in just after 2 a.m. Crews responded to 2320 Scientific Park Blvd. where chemicals reacted negatively in a waste disposal tank. Flowers said the reaction blew out a side wall of the tank and sprayed acid inside on the floor.

Flowers said workers were inside Alcami at the time but made it out safely.

A HAZMAT team entered the building to investigate.

Alcami Corporation’s Chief Operation Officer Ted Dolan released the following statement.

“Alcami would like to thank the Wilmington Fire department and it’s Hazmat team for its fast response to what turned out to be a minor incident at Alcami’s Wilmington Laboratory Technical Center location.

At approximately 2:00 AM, a small volume (2 liters) of acidic laboratory waste material was disposed in a chemical waste drum in a small laboratory at Alcami’s Wilmington Laboratory Technical Center. Shortly afterwards employees working in the area recognized unusual odor and an emerging hazardous spill. Consistent with Alcami’s Safety Protocol, the employees contacted immediately the Wilmington Fire Department (WFD).  Both WFD and the HazMat Team responded quickly to secure the affected laboratory and to neutralize the spilled material.  There were no injuries, no threat to the environment and no equipment damage. The WFD HazMat team has neutralized the spill, contained the leak and secured the lab. We are thankful for the very quick response from the Wilmington Fire Department and our teams’ quick and appropriate engagement.

After the clean up the WFD conducted an environmental monitoring and completed a full inspection of the entire Laboratory building prior to releasing the area to Alcami’s Environmental, Health and Safety Team.  The Alcami team has assessed the area and determined the return to normal business operations is appropriate.   The Wilmington Laboratory Technical Center has opened for business as usual this morning.  We thank all those who responded and appreciate our teams’ quick and appropriate action.”