News Story
Members were engaged in an overnight emergency after chemicals were found to be leaking from a container in a yard off Stanley Street, Parnell. Said to be "highly flammable, toxic substances", fire crews contained the spill using absorbent. Our members provided traffic management and scene safety: the mobile canteen also turned out. They were on site until after 1.30am, about the same time another call the brigade attended was also concluding... a 3-car motor accident on Mt Eden Road near Mt Eden Village. One person was extricated from one car by firefighters. All three vehicles had to be towed away including a parked car suffering extensive side-swipe damage.
Last night's chemical spillage recalls the 4-day Parnell Fumes emergency in 1973. It too, was leakage from a consignment of chemicals in transit. The fumes caused 6,000 Parnell residents to be evacuated. Many fell ill: more than 600 people required hospital treatment. An inquiry later led to reform of the law governing transport and storage of dangerous goods.
