Chemical Fire Causes Odor in the Area
The odor is expected to dissipate over the next several hours.
A chemical fire that burned overnight in Bristol, Pa. has caused a smell in the area, according to a statement release by Cranbury Township Wednesday afternoon.
There have been reports of the odor in the Cranbury-East Windsor-Hightstown area.
ABC reported the fire at Dow Chemical's Rohm and Haas plant started after a lightning bolt struck two storage tanks containing Ethyl Acrylate and Butyl Acrylate at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. The blaze was upgraded to three-alarm, as crews from Pennsylvania and New Jersey battled the fire through the morning.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services are monitoring the incident, according to a statement from Cranbury Township. The odor is expected to dissipate over the next several hours and there is no health impact in New Jersey.
Have you smelled the chemical odor today? In what town? Tell us in the comments below.
Rebecca
3:56 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Smelled it since early this morning in Hightstown. Hopefully it's not dangerous?
Ashley Peskoe
4:29 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Rebecca - Cranbury Township's statement says there is no health impact in NJ. Thanks for the comment.
Kristina G.
6:42 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
How do they know there is no health impact??? These are toxic chemicals. I had heard that when Chernobyl occurred...and watched the people getting sick.
Mark Klatkskin
7:23 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Yes. My office in Hamilton smelled like it the moment I walked in. I think I got used to it as I had to leave for a hour and came back and noticed it still smelled. I am 15 miles closert to the fire than East Windsor.
DSXM
10:43 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I am disappointed in the Mercer County school districts for not closing today...oh wait, god forbid they lose their graduation ceremonies at Sun Bank Arena because of a healthy and safety hazard to staff and students.