Essex Co. HazMat team called to Mineville Post Office

MINEVILLE | Essex County Emergency Services was called to the Mineville-Witherbee Post Office for a hazardous materials response on Monday. A strong chemical/fuel odor was emanating from a package that came in the mail. The Mineville-Witherbee Volunteer Fire Department arrived first and called for HazMat support. Essex County Emergency Services Director Max Thwaits III said two technicians from the county HazMat team responded wearing protective gear with high-level respiratory protection. "There was a one-gallon bottle of fuel additive for diesel that had ruptured," Thwaits told the Sun. "Two gallons had been sent by mail in a cardboard box, and one of them was leaking." The incident was called in to Emergency Services at 9:03 a.m. Monday, May 23. "Two personnel entered in Level B suits with SCBAs (air packs) and removed the package from the building," Thwaits said. The HazMat team worked with firefighters to ventilate the Post Office and opened all of the windows and doors, including front and back overhead bay doors and used fans to help clear the air. The product is a stabilizer to make diesel fuel last longer, Thwaits said. "It's highly concentrated and has a very strong odor. It made people working at the Post Office feel ill and get a headache." The product is called PRI-D and it has a Material Safety Data Sheet related to health hazards associated with chemical contents. The MSDS says "vapors may cause drowsiness and dizziness. May cause lung damage if swallowed." It is a combustible liquid and the vapors are heavier than air. According to the MSDS, PRI-D "vapors may travel across the ground and reach remote ignition sources causing a flashback fire danger." The HazMat team removed the product for proper disposal. According to U.S. Postal Service regulations posted on their website, the material, a liquid, is not supposed to be sent via mail. EMS did evaluate three post office employees who were exposed and came in contact with the product. No one was transported to the hospital. Personnel at the Post Office in Mineville were not able to comment on the incident. Thwaits said Emergency Services personnel were back in service by 11 a.m. Numerous local agencies aided in the response, including the Mineville-Witherbee Volunteer Fire Department, Moriah Volunteer Fire Department, four deputies from Essex County Emergency Services, Moriah EMS, the county medic, Lamoille EMS, New York State Police and deputies from the Essex County Sheriff's Department. Thwaits said the response was orderly and effective. "It was very well organized and very well contained." Mineville-Witherbee Post Office is located at 137 Raymond Wright Ave. in the Mineville section of Moriah. It is open with normal hours of operation.

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Essex Co. HazMat team called to Mineville Post Office

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