Fire crews were called to the building, which houses Nouryon Chemcical Inc., at 3 p.m. March 30. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team used a robot to assist in assessing the safety of the inside of the building. The building did sustain damage due to the exploding peroxide canisters.
Fire company personnel and the Niagara County HazMat Team were also able to stop an uncontrolled chemical reaction and develop a plan to resolve the situation.
“There’s been tons of monitoring, tons of preventive maintenance,” he said.
Newfane town supervisor John Syracuse said the facility has had several incidents over years and has some concerns, but added the investigation is still very early.
“Obviously the state is involved, the county is involved, and the reports will be investigated, and we’ll see what that comes out,” Syracuse said.
The county sheriff’s office has reported that there is no immediate danger to the public. There is no estimated loss of damage to the building or contents at the time.
Organic peroxide formulations are thermally unstable, which means they will self-react when exposed to certain temperatures. While some may be stored at normal ambient temperatures without any safety implications, others must be stored at cold temperatures. Following recommended storage and handling practices can effectively reduce the risks associated with handling organic peroxide formulations.
Hazards that may be associated with organic peroxide formulations include rapid decomposition due to high temperature or contamination with other chemicals, rapid burning and sensitivity to shock or friction, as well as potential human health hazards due to contact with eyes or skin or due to swallowing.