At 5:15 a.m., June 20, 2011, the Environmental Emergency Response Spill Line was contacted regarding a chemical wholesale facility fire at the Chemisphere Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri. Chemisphere Corporation is considered a Tier II facility with approximately 60 different chemicals on site. A department emergency responder headed to the scene.
The department responder reported the fire was extinguished at about 9:30 a.m. Materials on-site that were involved in the fire according to Chemisphere’s representative include: Totes containing MEK, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetone, Methyl Acetate, Soy Methyl Esters, Ethanol, hand sanitizers, one tank car of mineral oil, drums of Isopropyl Alcohol, and the intermodal container with pallets of Benzoic Acid which had minor damage.
Chemisphere Fire - Cages of burnt poly totes
Air monitoring was performed using a MultiRae 4 – gas meter in the combined sewer manholes on the property and down gradient several blocks from company’s main gate. The highest Volatile Organ Compound reading was 5.6 ppm and 0% Lower Explosive Limit in all the manholes checked.
A vacuum truck was brought in to remove any free standing pools of product, fire suppression water, or product and suppression water combined. No major waterways were impacted that could be seen through visual observation.
The department is still providing oversight of the clean-up at the facility and coordinating with all parties involved to ensure issues are resolved.
To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.
For more information, please visit our web site Environmental Services Program
Chemisphere Fire - Bags of Benzoic Acid on pallets along with remainder of a box trailer with drums of isopropyl alcohol
Chemisphere Fire - Tank car contained mineral consumed by fire. Directly behind tank car - rail car containing flammable liquid
