There were some tense moments at NA Industries at 2651 Riverport Road Wednesday morning when a fire broke in the chemical process building. When the flames erupted, the workers evacuated the site and called 911.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 10:44 a.m.and responded with six fire companies. When plant employees told firefighters that there might be a leak of a hazardous chemical, the department’s haz-mat team was also called in. The plant had 27 employees there at the time, and all but a handful were evacuated. No employees were injured.
Tactical Services Chief Danny Hague said the fire caused the building’s automatic deluge sprinkler system to activate, which helped the firefighters get the fire under control in roughly 15 minutes. Sometime before or during that operation, three firefighters were exposed to a chemical in the plant and complained of some skin irritation. The firefighters were transported by Hamilton County EMS to Erlanger Medical Center. Two others were transported later as a precaution. All of the firefighters were treated and released.
Chief Hague said the fire occurred in the rack piping system in the process building. After conducting an initial investigation, workers at the plant said the fire erupted after a line carrying the chemical Maleic Anhydride ruptured. After the fire was extinguished, workers closed valves on the line to stop the leak. Though plant employees are still trying to determine how much of the Maleic Anhydride leaked, Chief Hague said that whatever escaped the ruptured line was kept on site and did not present a threat to the public. The scene was turned back over to NA Industry employees, who would begin the cleanup process and conduct an investigation as to how the incident occurred.
NA Industries makes detergent and concrete additives. Chattanooga Police, EPB and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue all provided assistance.