The fire department was at the scene of a chemical spill at the Kerite Co. for about four hours Thursday.
According to Dwayne Gardner, a spokesman with the state Department of Environmental Protection, a broken pipe caused 22 gallons — or 160 pounds — of liquid organic peroxide to spill onto the floor inside a building at the Kerite complex at 49 Day St.
Organic peroxides are dangerous and become flammable or can explode if exposed to heat. Fumes from the chemicals are also dangerous.
However, no fire — or injuries — were reported in the incident, Gardner said.
A few employees were checked out by an EMS crew and employees were evacuated from the immediate area of the complex where the spill happened.
“It was contained inside the building, in an intrinsically safe area — an air conditioned area. Actual safety threats on this were very, very minimal,” said Seymour Fire Inspector Timothy Willis.
The town’s fire department was at the scene until about 2:15 p.m., according to radio transmissions. The company brought in a private hazardous material crew to clean up the spill.
Messages seeking comment from the fire department were left at the scene and through e‑mail.
A message seeking comment was also left with Kerite President John DeGray.
Kerite manufactures cable, often used to encase underground utilities.
They had two organic peroxide fires there in March, according to the New Haven Register.
However, Willis said those fires were thought to have been started by a “bad batch” of solid organic peroxide received by the company.
According to a safety guide published by Arkema, a chemical company in Philadelphia, Pa., “inert absorbent material” should first be used to clean up spilled organic peroxides. The material should then be placed in polyethylene bags for disposal.
The area should then be washed down with water and ventilated. More information on organic peroxides can be downloaded here.
The spill closed Day Street to thru traffic for several hours.
