Contaminated clothes withdrawn after fire

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 5

Contaminated clothes withdrawn after fire

PA Auckland Clothing and equipment worn by 100 firemen who fought the Mount Wellington chemical factory fire on Friday evening has been withdrawn by the Fire Service because of the danger of contamination. Senior fire officers have called in 100 sets of coats, trousers, boots and gloves from the 25 fire stations which sent men to the fire at 1.C.1. New Zealand, Ltd, factory. It is feared the fabric may have absorbed such chemicals as paraquat and diquat, posing a danger to firemen wearing it.

A divisional fire officer,

Mr Dennis Heath, said: “Some clothing may have become impregnated with the toxic material, and we cannot take the chance of firemen wearing it and becoming contaminated.” In spite of water baths set up at the scene of the fire to decontaminate firemen and their clothing, 30 firemen were treated at the weekend for skin rashes and sores. The rashes occurred on the wrists, lower legs and thighs. Mr Heath said the firemen would undergo regular blood tests for three weeks. He said the suits worn by the men at the factory fire were the best available for

firefighting, but offered limited protection against chemicals. Plastic protective clothing such as that worn by chemical workers could not be given to firemen fighting the blaze because the material was flammable. In addition to the clothing, which has been thoroughly washed but may have to be replaced, 75 sets of breathing apparatus have been withdrawn. Webbing and the fabric in the face mask diaphragms may have been contaminated and will be replaced. Meanwhile, breathing apparatus has been borrowed from other fire stations.