APRIL 29, 2015
Twenty-two DuPont employees and two firefighters were
transported to hospitals after a chemical leak occurred on Monday in the 5400
block of Jefferson Davis Highway, DuPont complex. Twelve employees were treated
by medics at the scene, but not transported, according to Lt. Jason Elmore of
Chesterfield Fire and EMS.
The emergency call was sounded at 10:45 a.m., at the Dupont
Richmond Zytel plant. Chesterfield Fire and EMS, which included Haz Mat teams,
a special foam unit from the Airport Fire Station, a Multi-Casualty Bus,
multiple EMS units, fire crews from City of Richmond and Defense Logics
Agency(formerly known as DSCR) and numerous fire engines and aerial ladder
trucks soon arrived on scene to assist Dupont’s Fire and EMS team.
The Zytel building had chemical pipes located on the outside
of the building where the leak was, Elmore said.
Firefighters sprayed a steady stream of water on the
chemicals to disperse vapors, which are highly flammable, Elmore explained.
The leak was contained by 3:30 p.m.
Conditions of the patients, including the firefighters have
not been released as of press time.
The cause of the leak is under investigation.