The Genesee County ESU Hazmat Team responded to assist the Pembroke Fire Department at the Flying J Travel Plaza on Rt. 77 in Pembroke on Tuesday evening, after a drum of pharmaceutical waste tipped over in a trailer.
The incident was called in by the driver of the trailer about 6:10p.m. The driver was able to unhook from the trailer and move away from the scene following the discovery of the tipped over drum. She was checked out on scene and was not injured.
According to Deputy Fire Coordinator Brian Schollard, the County ESU Hazmat team responded with 14 members and up righted the 55-gallon drum about 7:38p.m. Schollard says the drum, which contained dichloromethane, a colorless liquid solvent with a chloroform like odor, is used in paint strippers and pharmaceutical manufacturing and metal degreasing. Once up righted, crews strapped down the drum to secure it. Only a few ounces leaked onto the steel deck of the trailer. He says the rest of the load, 1000lbs of various medical waste, was not affected.
The tractor trailer entrance on Rt. 77 remained closed at the Flying J during the incident and reopened after 8:00PM.