Large Chemical Plant Blaze Sends 11 Firefighters to Hospital

Crews responded to a large fire at the Thatcher Chemical production plant in Williamson, NY last Wednesday that forced employees to evacuate and sent 11 firefighters to area hospitals, local news organizations reported.

Dispatched at about 7 a.m., emergency personnel arrived on scene to find that the blaze ignited in the rear section of the structure near empty totes that previously held chemicals, coverage by television news station WROC said. Officials closed parts of a road near the facility during the response.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the fire appears accidental in nature and that no chemicals were released from the facility, ABC News affiliate WHAM said. An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.

11 firefighters were taken to several different hospital for smoke inhalation or injuries, per a SpectrumLocalNews.com account. No workers were hurt.

Salt Lake City-based Thatcher Chemical manufactures and distributes a range of chemicals for the food and dairy, mining, pharma, oil and gas, agriculture, construction, and water treatment industries.