Freon Leak Sickens Over A Dozen People

After Engine 78 returned to quarters from an LZ call for an ill person at Respironics, shortly after 10:00 this morning, the Box was placed for 1001 Murry Ridge Drive at the Respironics building for a reported gas leak with patients becoming ill inside of the production facility.

78 Engine was first to arrive at the 3rd District plant with roughly 400 employees evacuating the building, The Engine crew started to piece together the incident and it was determined that 15 people needed immediate medical attention for exposure to an unknown gas or chemical. EMS Command was established and triage of the patients along with bringing in additional Medic units was well underway.

Truck 20 arrived on scene and went to work with gas detection devices inside the structure since the initial indication was a possible natural gas or propane leak. All readings were within acceptable limits as to the scope of elements of which the detectors could identify. With no sound determination of a cause all units were removed from the building and met with Command in an effort to regroup.

County Hazmat was dispatched to the scene roughly an hour into the alarm, bringing Team 800 on location to assist with the identification and remediation of the substance making the employees ill. Symptoms included a metallic taste in the mouth, disorientation, dizziness, nausea, elevated blood pressure and confusion.

Hazmat crews entered the structure in Level B protection with multiple detection devices in an effort to make a call on the substance, approximately 4 hours into the operation Freon was detected in an area that was occupied by one of the overcome employees.

The Freon leak was traced back to a rooftop HVAC unit that had an apparent malfunction and the leaking Freon found its way into the building through air handling ducts and other roof penetrations.

Crews began to ventilate the affected areas of the building through mechanical means to allow the structure to be occupied for the following work day. After an hour's worth of ventilation an assessment was performed to determine the effectiveness of the air movement.

It was determined that the Freon was cleared from the facility and all crews began wrapping up from the day's long event and started returning in service once their equipment was stowed.

In all toll 19 people were transported and treated and various hospitals throughout the region. Including one patient, prior to the on-start of the suspicious odor call, who was flown from the facility via a medical helicopter under conditions that mimicked a stroke who very well may have been the first person affected by the Freon.

Responding companies included Company 78, Trucks 20 & 102, Engines 64, 236 & 115, Team 800, Multiple EMS Units from surrounding communities and MPD. Crews were on scene for approximately 6 hours.