Nov. 04--NEWBURYPORT -- A broken wall thermometer forced the closure of Fruit Street yesterday for several hours to allow a Hazmat team to collect and dispose of a small amount of mercury that escaped from the ornamental hanging piece, according to a Newburyport fire official.
Newburyport fire Lt. Richard Hamilton said the wall thermometer, stored in the basement, was damaged when a homeowner broke it while moving other items. A small amount of mercury escaped, prompting the evacuation of the house. The exact amount was unknown at press time.
Two adults and a dog were forced to leave the house during the clean-up effort. Hamilton called the spill a Tier 1 response, meaning the deployment of six emergency responders. While larger communities have their own Hazmat team, Newburyport is part of a regional exchange program that merges emergency personnel from across the area. Among those responding yesterday were Amesbury fire Deputy Chief David Mather and firefighters from North Reading, Ipswich and Danvers.
Exposure to mercury, a heavy metal and common in thermometers of all sizes, can lead to serious health problems if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Fruit Street, which is located in the West End of Newburyport, was blocked off by a Newburyport police officer stationed on High Street.
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