Firefighters hot over chemical spill
A recent chemical spill incident has upset some Paradise Valley firefighters, who voiced their concerns to the Paradise Valley Fire Commission Tuesday night.
Boundary County residents, residing at 265 Uplander Rd, in the Paradise Valley area, contacted law enforcement last Monday night to report a class two hazardous spill, involving the chemical formaldehyde.
The incident began on Dec. 5, with Idaho State police, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Paradise Valley Fire District, Boundary Ambulance and Boundary County Emergency Management arriving on scene at about 8:15 p.m., and ending late Tuesday afternoon with the homeowners re-entering the residence.
Upon arrival, authorities confirmed that approximately one gallon of formaldehyde had been spilled in the basement.
The exact amount is unknown. Homeowners were evacuated by Paradise Valley Fire District Incident Commander Josh Wortley and a minor child in the home was reportedly treated by Boundary Ambulance for chemical burns, due to walking through the puddle of formaldehyde with only his socks on, according to Wortley
The concerns expressed at Tuesday night’s meeting were regarding how the incident was handled by the county’s emergency management, after the decision was made to send two firefighters into the basement of the contaminated residence without the proper gear — which would be a Level B, vapor-resistant suit — and, in so doing, exposed two firefighters to the chemical formaldehyde, along with three other firefighters on the outside, who had also been exposed from the vapors emitting from the residence, according to Paradise Valley firefighters.
Some firefighters expressed to the Commission that they will not respond to calls until their turnout gear is replaced.
They further expressed concern that the fire apparatus that was used on the scene could also be contaminated.
According to firefighters, the Department of Environmental Quality advised them to not enter into the contaminated residence, however, they had already made entry into the “hot zone.”
Fire commissioners moved to approve the purchase of two and a half sets of turnouts for the firefighters who had reportedly been exposed and the issued turnout gear that has been contaminated was ordered to be bagged and destroyed.
The motion was approved and Chairman of the Fire Commission Board Orrin Everhart said he and one other firefighter that was on the scene will attempt to get on the Boundary County Commissioner’s agenda next week in order to discuss the situation.
“The commissioners need to know that we are not certified or trained in HAZMAT cleanup,” Everhart said. “We are left with replacing two and a half sets of turnouts at approximately $2,500 each and the cost of decontaminating any other equipment that may be exposed to this hazardous chemical.”
According to the 2016 Emergency Response Guidebook, firefighters responding to an incident involving formaldehyde are required to wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer.
Structural firefighters’ protective clothing provides limited protection and are for fire situations only.
It is not effective in situations where direct contact with the substance is possible.
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.
Everhart said the goal in meeting with the commissioners will be to set the record straight regarding what the district is and is not certified, trained, or required to do in a Class 2 incident, as well as investigate the matter so that future incidents can be handled appropriately for the safety of the firefighters and the community.