Hazmat situation declared in North Philly Updated: August 25, 2016 — 10:16 PM EDT
Firefighters responding to a hazmat incident at Purolite, a North Philadelphia plastic-materials and resins manufacturing facility Thursday night are restricting vehicle traffic in the area, authorities said.
The chemical was identified as Divinylbenzene, an aromatic chemical used in plastic production.
A acrid odor similar to the smell of fuel hung in the air near the building into Friday morning.
The Purolite facility manufactures resins that are used in industrial water purification systems.
Firefighters were called at 6:17 p.m. to Purolite Corp., 3620 G St., for a hazmat situation. No further information was immediately available on the nature of the problem.
Police had said residents on nearby blocks were being told to shelter in place.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said only the 3600 block of G Street was evacuated.
At 9:08 p.m., Samantha Phillips, director of emergency management for the city, tweeted: "Take this message seriously. Avoid the area until further notice. Potentially dangerous condition."
Hazmat situation prompts evacuation at Juniata building
A hazmat situation has prompted the evacuation of a building in Philadelphia's Juniata section.
Thursday, August 25, 2016 11:14PM
JUNIATA (WPVI) -- A hazmat situation has prompted the evacuation of a building in Philadelphia's Juniata section.
It was reported at 6:18 p.m. Thursday along the 3600 block of G Street.
Fire officials are in the process of determining if surrounding houses will also need to be evacuated.
The source of the hazmat is a ruptured 5,000-gallon tank containing a dangerous chemical.
The chemical in question is deemed extremely dangerous when at a temperature in excess of 100 degrees.
Its most recent temperature reading was 105 degrees, and hazmat crews will have to wait for the matter to cool to a safe temperature before attempting to secure it.
No injuries have been reported.
The incident was declared under control at 9:28 p.m., but early indicators are this will be an extended cleanup operation that could last several hours.
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A hazmat situation caused the Philadelphia Fire Department to restrict travel in an area located in the city’s Juniata section on Thursday night.
Authorities say that around 6:30 p.m., a hazmat situation took place inside a building on the 3600 block of G Street. The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Officials say that personnel on scene were taking precautions in the event that a large tank, which was leaking a chemical substance outside of the facility, would potentially explode. Crews worked to shut off pressure to the tank.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m., the Philadelphia Fire Department closed down the 3600 block of G Street, between Venango and Erie, to people and vehicles.
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Chemical Leak at Kensington Warehouse Prompts Block Closure
By Vince Lattanzio and Dan Stamm
NBC10's Pamela Osborne returned to G Street in Kensington where a chemical leak posed potential risks. Crews on the scene told Osborne they are trying to have everything cleaned up by the end of Friday. (Published Friday, Aug. 26, 2016)
A chemical leak inside a warehouse in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood Thursday night prompted the closure of a block and investigation by hazmat crews and police.
The Philadelphia Fire Department responded to a call of leaking chemicals at the facility at G and E. Venango streets around 7 p.m.
The chemical was identified as Divinylbenzene, an aromatic chemical used in plastic production.
A acrid odor similar to the smell of fuel hung in the air near the building into Friday morning.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the substance was leeching out of a large tank inside the building. He said there are concerns that the substance could catch fire and cause the tank to explode. Small said it could take up to three days to secure the leak.
The 3600 block of G Street was shut down as a precaution. A shelter-in-place was initially issued for the area, but was lifted around 9:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Emergency Management Director Samantha Phillips tweeted that residents should take the order seriously. "Avoid the area until further notice. Potentially dangerous situation," she wrote in a tweet.
The warehouse is located among a number of industrial buildings, but there are a few row homes and a day care nearby. People could be seen going in and out of buildings int he area as crews continued to work at the warehouse Friday morning.
