Fumes Force S.C. Plant Evacuation, Hospitalizes Four

EASLEY—Four people have been hospitalized after fumes at the YH America plant in Easley caused headaches and vomiting.

Easley firefighters responded to a hazardous material spill call at about 8 p.m. Wednesday night, but Fire Chief Butch Womack said he believes there is not much reason for concern.

“Nobody received any permanent damage,” Womack said. “Once the plant was evacuated and exhaust fans were utilized, it was cleared up.”

Womack said the fumes were created from a construction site just outside of the plant.

“They were pouring concrete for a pad they are building out there on a construction site and they put some sealer on it. As the temperature and humidity changed yesterday, some of the fumes were brought into the plant through the ventilation system,” Womack said. “It just made some people irritated in terms of headaches and vomiting, but it wasn’t a disaster or hazardous material spill.”

The Fire Chief said there was no hazardous material spill.

“One of our initial calls indicated that there was a hazardous material spill and that wasn’t the case,” Womack said. “We had no calls from any neighbors in the area complaining of anything so it was all isolated to the plant.”

Womack said the four were taken to the hospital as a precaution and appear to be unharmed.

“They transported four patients to the hospital for precautionary reasons, but I don’t think there’s any cause for concern,” Womack said. “This isn’t something that is going to linger or continue to be a problem.”

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