| At 2013 hours, the Hazardous Materials Emergency was alerted for 29727 Finch Court in Charlotte Hall. Initial reports advised of a twelve ounce mercury spill. This brought Rescue Squad 2, Fire Chief 2, Charles Stations 2 and 5, EMS Stations 29 and Charles 2 as well as Hazmat Teams from St. Mary's County and NDW Pax River.
The caller stated they were cleaning out their garage and a small container filled with mercury overturned and spilled on the garage floor.
Rescue Squad 2 arrived, followed by Charles Enigne 22 and Fire Chief 2. The Chief established "Finch Court Command" and staged units. She then accessed the EGR manual online from Command 2 for instructions on mitigating the incident. Once it was confirmed that the spill was confined to the garage and front ramp area, command scaled the incident back holding Rescue Squad 2, Charles Engine 22, both Hazmat Teams and Ambulance 296. Firefighters donned SCBA and secured a perimeter around the residence and Finch Court was closed at Laurel Ridge Drive.
Once hazmat personnel arrived, they donned Level "C" suites, SCBA and had all openings taped up in order to enter the hazardous environment. Personnel that entered the garage used a special vacuum to clean up the spill.
Once the situtaion was mitigated, the residents were allowed to return and units started to pick up their equipment.
Units operated on the scene for four hours and thirty minutes. |
