Cary-area concrete plant evacuated after chemical plume

https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/news/2022/11/01/chemical-vapor-plume-at-wells-concrete-in-cary-causes-excavation-of-70-employees/

A improper chemical mix caused a vapor plume that forced 70 employees of Wells Concrete out of the building, the Cary Fire Protection District said.

Emergency responders were dispatched at 4:47 a.m. Tuesday to Wells Concrete, formerly Spancrete, at 4012 Northwest Highway outside Cary, according to a news release.

While initial reports were for a fire, firefighters learned that it was a vapor plume in the production area of the building, the news release said.

The plume occurred when employees mixing chemicals in a 55-gallon drum as part of their normal work process did not use the right concentrations, causing a chemical reaction, according to the release.

Prior to evacuating, employees dumped an absorbent over the spilled area to stop the chemical chain reaction, the release said. Several overhead doors were left open to allow the vapor to dissipate.

The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District was asked to bring its airboat - which has a large fan - to further ventilate the building, according to the release.

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