During yesterday’s fire at Penobscot McCrum, firefighters prevented an ammonia leak keeping environmental risks at bay. But what if some of the estimated 10,000 pounds of ammonia stored at the facility had leaked? “As you heat up liquid inside that tank, the gas is going to expand,” says Westbrook fire Chief Stephen Sloan. “Those tanks can only hold so much pressure before their pressure release goes off or it blows up.” The regional Environmental Protection Agency office in Boston was on site during yesterday’s fire. Those EPA officers estimate that an explosion could have had an impact radius of 2.2 miles, with the potential to affect 3,900 people. The EPA was worried about Penobscot McCrum’s ammonia storage and emergency protocols after a site inspection in 2014. The inspection led to a 2016 complaint that claims Penobscot McCrum LLC violated Clean Air Laws and failed to meet Emergency Risk Management Regulations. The company agreed to pay almost $150,000 in fines, most of which went towards local emergency preparedness.At that time, the closest emergency responders equipped to address an ammonia leak were an hour away in Bangor. The EPA did not think this was sufficient. Funding from Penobscot McCrum covered extensive hazmat training and costly gear for the Belfast Fire Department. A single hazmat suit typically costs between $1,200 – $1,500. According to the director of Waldo County Emergency Management Agency, the town would not have been able to avoid those tools. When it comes to Belfast, the surrounding area is covered in case of a hazmat emergency, not every town has that infrastructure. “It’s pretty extensive on what you need to be a hazmat team and it’s very expensive and that’s why it takes a regional approach to be able to handle these,” Sloan said.According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency, not every department has technical hazmat training and equipment, that legally limits their ability to respond to a leak. Towns without technical hazmat responders rely on eight Regional Response Teams across the state: Androscoggin Valley Cobra team; Brunswick; Central ME RRT in Waterville; Madawaska; Rumford; Orono; Portland; and South Portland.These teams are equipped, but relying on those resources could cause a one or two-hour delay in emergency response time. Westbrook Fire Department is outfitted for hazmat emergencies. They work with Portland and South Portland during large hazmat cleanups so Westbrook and Southern Maine are covered. The Westbrook fire chief says were it not for that training, they would have to rely on the county and the state to assist during a hazmat leak. “The problem with that, it could be a significant time for them to get a team,” Sloan said.”They might need to get one from Brunswick or Bangor. But we’re fortunate enough in Southern Maine to have enough resources in our immediate area to be able to handle these.”

BELFAST, Maine —

During yesterday’s fire at Penobscot McCrum, firefighters prevented an ammonia leak keeping environmental risks at bay. But what if some of the estimated 10,000 pounds of ammonia stored at the facility had leaked?

“As you heat up liquid inside that tank, the gas is going to expand,” says Westbrook fire Chief Stephen Sloan. “Those tanks can only hold so much pressure before their pressure release goes off or it blows up.”

The regional Environmental Protection Agency office in Boston was on site during yesterday’s fire. Those EPA officers estimate that an explosion could have had an impact radius of 2.2 miles, with the potential to affect 3,900 people.

The EPA was worried about Penobscot McCrum’s ammonia storage and emergency protocols after a site inspection in 2014. The inspection led to a 2016 complaint that claims Penobscot McCrum LLC violated Clean Air Laws and failed to meet Emergency Risk Management Regulations. The company agreed to pay almost $150,000 in fines, most of which went towards local emergency preparedness.

At that time, the closest emergency responders equipped to address an ammonia leak were an hour away in Bangor. The EPA did not think this was sufficient.

Funding from Penobscot McCrum covered extensive hazmat training and costly gear for the Belfast Fire Department. A single hazmat suit typically costs between $1,200 – $1,500. According to the director of Waldo County Emergency Management Agency, the town would not have been able to avoid those tools.

When it comes to Belfast, the surrounding area is covered in case of a hazmat emergency, not every town has that infrastructure.

“It’s pretty extensive on what you need to be a hazmat team and it’s very expensive and that’s why it takes a regional approach to be able to handle these,” Sloan said.

According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency, not every department has technical hazmat training and equipment, that legally limits their ability to respond to a leak. Towns without technical hazmat responders rely on eight Regional Response Teams across the state: Androscoggin Valley Cobra team; Brunswick; Central ME RRT in Waterville; Madawaska; Rumford; Orono; Portland; and South Portland.

These teams are equipped, but relying on those resources could cause a one or two-hour delay in emergency response time.

Westbrook Fire Department is outfitted for hazmat emergencies. They work with Portland and South Portland during large hazmat cleanups so Westbrook and Southern Maine are covered. The Westbrook fire chief says were it not for that training, they would have to rely on the county and the state to assist during a hazmat leak.

“The problem with that, it could be a significant time for them to get a team,” Sloan said.

“They might need to get one from Brunswick or Bangor. But we’re fortunate enough in Southern Maine to have enough resources in our immediate area to be able to handle these.”

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Originally Appeared Here