By Bram Berkowitz
bberkowitz@wickedlocal.com
Updated Jul 8, 2016 at 3:49 PM
WINCHESTER, MASS.
A chemical spill on Thursday, July 7 temporarily closed Winchester's transfer station on McKay Avenue, but it was back up and running as of Friday morning, according to Fire Chief John Nash.
Nash told the Star a rupture occurred in a 55-gallon drum, resulting in the leakage of sodium hydroxide, known as lye. The incident was reported to the fire department at 4:37 p.m. and firefighters were on scene at the transfer station until 6:45 p.m., said Nash.
"The transfer station has been rendered safe, and people can continue to bring their trash there this weekend" he said, adding that a private vendor conducted the cleanup using an absorbent material.
Nash said the drum had been brought to the transfer station because of the high school renovation project, and could possibly be left over materials from the high school lab, although he couldn't be sure.