Chemical spill takes worker's breath away, official says (PHOTOS)
A hazardous materials team was being brought in midday June 21, 2016, to an acid spill in the first block of North Third Street in Easton. The city fire department opened the garbage bag, but wasn't able to immediately determine what chemical spilled from a bottle inside. (Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com
Tony Rhodin | For lehighvalleylive.com
on June 21, 2016 at 12:28 PM, updated June 21, 2016 at 2:32 PM
When an Easton city worker grabbed the bag Tuesday morning from the garbage can in the first block of North Third Street in Easton, the smell was intense.
He dropped the bag on the sidewalk next to a parking lot, but not before getting a whiff of what was inside.
"It took his breath away," an Easton fire official said. A compromised bottle in the bag left three yellow stains in the sidewalk.
The Easton Fire Department was called at 11:40 a.m.
A city firefighter put on a safety suit and moved the bag from the sidewalk into the street, the official said. The firefighter cut open the bag, but was not able to determine what kind of chemical was in the bottle.
Whatever was inside didn't spill much onto the street. There was a chemical odor several feet away, although a brisk wind was ventilating the area.
The Lehigh County hazardous materials team was requested and by early Tuesday afternoon, that block of North Third was shut to traffic.
The city employee was taken to a hospital for observation, the fire official said.