MANCHESTER, NH – One person was injured and four families displaced after a haz-mat incident June 30 at a Merrimack Street apartment building.
Fire companies arrived at approximately 9:40 p.m. to find an unknown odor emanating throughout the three-story dwelling. Air monitoring indicated high levels of volatile organic compounds. The building was evacuated and upon further investigation an approximately five-gallon spill of an unknown solvent was discovered in the basement.
The building was ventilated and the contaminated soil removed but the odor and VOC levels could not be reduced to safe levels. Four families were displaced and one resident went to the Elliot Hospital for a check of carbon monoxide in his blood.
Red Cross was notified and the families were being taken care of with temporary housing until the contaminated soil could be removed by a hazardous waste company.
