A hazardous material spill at Culligan Water on College Avenue in Elmira prompted a full emergency response to the industrial park around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. KELLY GAMPEL / Staff Video
Kelly Gampel, kgampel@stargazette.com | @theSGphotos 6:28 p.m. EDT July 5, 2016
A chemical leak at Culligan water in Elmira prompted a heavy emergency response presence Tuesday morning.
Elmira Fire Chief Joseph Martino said a chemical leak occurred in the system that Culligan uses to treat equipment.
The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. in Culligan's warehouse at 1316 College Ave., on the east side of the industrial park where Culligan is located.
The building was evacuated.
No injuries were reported, however a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
No information was available Tuesday on the cause of the leak or what chemical or chemicals were involved.
However, at one point two emergency responders, wearing full hazmat suits, emerged from the building. They were decontaminated in an area set up with a spray hose and wading pool.
Fire crews and other emergency responders gathered in a meeting area set up under the awning of the Elmira Fire Department's hazmat bus, with a wash station stationed nearby.
Webb Mills Fire Department, state fire agencies, Chemung County Fire Emergency Management Office, Elmira police, Elmira fire's Emergency Services Unit, Elmira Heights Fire Department were all at the industrial park at various times Tuesday.