The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was called to a home at 60 – 62 Oak Ave. Thursday afternoon after firefighters responding to a possible gas leak there found four 5‑gallon jugs labeled fluorboric acid in the basement.
The DEEP found that two of the jugs still contained the liquid — but were sealed and did not pose a danger to the residents of the home, according to Assistant Fire Chief Paul Wilson.
Two residents at the home were taken to the hospital after reporting chest pains and difficulty breathing, fire officials said.
The home was evacuated while firefighters and DEEP investigated.
Details
Firefighters were called to the home on a report of an odor of gasoline. The gas company responded, and found traces of gasoline in the air. The fire department vented the basement, however the gas company couldn’t find a source of the smell of gasoline, Wilson said.
What firefighters did find was the four jugs stored in the basement.
Firefighters called in DEEP to investigate with specialty gloves and equipment, because the acid is dangerous.
“It’s highly corrosive, highly toxic,” Wilson said.
A description listed on ChemicalBook.com says the acid is a health hazard: “Inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death,” the website said.
DEEP determined that two of the jugs were empty, and two of the jugs had liquid but were sealed off. The state agency cleared the building for the tenants to return — and said the homeowner would be responsible for removing the jugs, Wilson said.
But as a precaution, the city’s building inspector had also responded. He found building code violations at the home, Wilson said.
“It wasn’t up to code with requirements for a multi-family dwelling,” Wilson said. “The construction wasn’t completed.”
The building inspector deemed the home uninhabitable, Wilson said.
One possible complication with getting the acid removed and the home up to code — the previous owner lost the home to foreclosure.
The tenants told the fire department that the jugs had been in the basement for a while, and they didn’t know who put them there, Wilson said.
The Valley Indy tried to contact the previous owner, unsuccessfully.