Routine station duties and equipment checks were placed on hold for C Shift crews at Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's Special Operations Station 31 on the morning of February 19, 2003. Engine 31, Rescue 31 and District Chief 9 responded to an investigation of a chemical spill at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Headquarters at 3228 Gun Club Road in suburban West Palm Beach, FL at 8:15 a.m.
Upon arrival it was learned that an employee in the crime lab had accidentally spilled approximately 100 ml of Chlorotrimethylsilane onto the floor. Research on scene by Special Ops crews found the chemical to be highly flammable and extremely hazardous to health. Portions of the Sheriff's Office were evacuated and Command was set up. During the course of the next ten hours that crews were on scene, many agencies were contacted for information and support of the cleanup and containment of the hazard.
Additional crews were called in to assist with medical assessments, fire suppression and decontamination support. Firefighters in fully encapsulated "Level A" suits made entry to the crime lab to retrieve the remnants of the spill. Eventually, the product was packaged, sealed and removed and turned over to a private contractor for disposal. In addition to the units mentioned above, units on scene throughout the day included Rescue 33, Engine 33, Battalion Chief 9, Operations Chief 2, Rescue 31 and Tactical 31, Safety Officer 2, Rescue 23-Bravo, EMS Captain 9, and Light/Air 33. The Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad assisted Special Operations teams with entries into the contaminated building to retrieve personal belongings of those displaced by the toxic fumes. The last Fire-Rescue unit left the scene at 6:15 p.m.
