Hazardous Materials Box Alarm on Chinaberry Lane

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — At 6:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a call about a vehicle that drove into a structure in the 4500 block of Chinaberry Lane. The incident location is a single-story clubhouse made of wood frame construction. Naperville PSAP dispatched a special rescue assignment consisting of seven pieces of fire apparatus and 15 personnel.

At 7:05 p.m., the first vehicle arrived on the scene and found a vehicle that crashed through a fence and struck a storage tank. Fire companies surveyed the scene and discovered a 1000-gallon storage tank containing sodium hypochlorite and an 80-gallon storage tank of muriatic acid had ruptured in the collision. These chemicals are used to maintain the proper sanitary levels at a pool located on the scene. The chemicals from the broken tanks had spilled out and mixed, creating a noxious gas. Some of the product was found to be leaking into the storm sewer system. The incident commander immediately upgraded the alarm to a hazardous materials box alarm bringing a total of more than 40 firefighters and hazardous material teams from around the area.

HazMat technicians began operations and immediately set up diking and damming to stop any further flow of materials. Crews used vac trucks to remove materials from the storm drains and then flushed them with clean water. Collections booms also stopped any product from entering the nearby pond. Chemical test paper was used to ensure the water quality of storm drains was clean and free of any chemicals.

The teams worked closely with the Illinois environmental protection agency to assist with mitigation and the final cleanup, which a third-party private HazMat contractor conducted. The Naperville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Naperville Police, Naperville Department of Public Works, Illinois IEMA, Illinois EPA, Argonne Fire Department, Bolingbrook Fire Department, Downers Grove Fire Department, Hanover Park Fire Department, Lisle Woodridge Fire Department and Warrenville Fire Department. The Aurora Fire Department, Bolingbrook Fire Department, Oswego Fire Department, Plainfield Fire Department and Romeoville Fire Department provided coverage of Naperville stations during the incident. One civilian injury was transported to Edward Hospital in stable condition with injuries related to the vehicle accident. There were no injuries to fire service personnel operating on the scene. The building was deemed to be uninhabitable by the Naperville Transportation, Engineering, and Development Team.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 145,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.