By FireRescue1 Staff
CRANSTON, R.I. — Fourteen firefighters were taken to the hospital after being exposed to chemicals while responding to a small fire.
CBS Boston reported that the blaze at a chemical distribution company turned into a major hazmat response after crews realized the chemicals had been impacted by the fire.
“It became quite hazardous when we found out there were chemicals that had been disturbed and containers that had been broken or breached,” Cranston Fire Chief William McKenna said.
Chief McKenna said the stored chemicals either mixed with each other or reacted to water, and the 14 firefighters who were initially exposed to the threat were rushed to the hospital.
“One had slight difficulty breathing and the rest are just being monitored,” Chief McKenna said.
“I think this fire shows just how dangerous of situations our firefighters can encounter,” Cranston Mayor Allan Fung said. “Our thoughts are with all those injured firefighters that responded to this call.”
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