02-11-16 Chemical Spill Leads to Building Evacuation at UTC

The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to the scene with several fire companies, and the haz-mat team. Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said the hazardous substance was identified as Pyridine, a flammable substance that is also an irritant to the skin and eyes. Fortunately, only about a quart of the substance was spilled. Chief Boatwright said a UTC police officer and one student were checked out by paramedics with Hamilton County EMS. Both individuals declined to be transported to a local hospital.

Chief Boatwright said haz-mat personnel neutralized the Pyridine and then an environmental cleanup company was called in to remove the substance and any trace of the chemical in the lab. Firefighters also used gas monitoring devices to check for airborne contamination while the entire building was ventilated. The laboratory was sealed off for the cleanup, but Chuck Cantrell, Assistant Vice Chancellor of University Relations, said the rest of the EMCS building would reopen at 5:00 p.m. today. Chattanooga police, UTC police and UTC's Safety and Risk Management office also worked closely with the fire department on this incident.