Fire Department

The Madison Fire Department and its Hazardous Incident Team (HIT) were called to the 800 block of East Johnson Street following reports of a strong chemical odor in the area.
 
Engine Company 3 was dispatched to the scene at 12:40 p.m. when someone smelled a vapor comparable to paint thinner coming from a storm drain. Area business owners say the smell also permeated their basements.
 
Firefighters noted a white haze coming from the storm drain slightly west of 809 E. Johnson and summoned the assistance of the MFD HIT when the chemical vapor could not be identified with the crew’s Sensit meter.
 
The HIT began to collect air samples and eventually identified the chemical as styrene. With the help of Public Health Madison-Dane County, firefighters were able to assure area occupants that the levels of styrene in the air, including in the basements, were not harmful. Occupants waited outside as Engine 3 and HIT continued to monitor the environment and investigate the source of the odor.
 
Officials soon learned that a construction/engineering company had been lining sewers in the neighborhood, and styrene was a known component of their operations. An employee of the construction company confirmed their use of styrene and said the chemical had been disposed of in a drain approximately four blocks away from where the HIT was conducting its investigation.
 
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and City of Madison Engineering Division were notified of the situation and the potential for runoff impacting other areas and the nearby Yahara River. At 4:40 p.m., the HIT turned the scene over to DNR and Engineering officials, who are addressing any remaining environmental concerns.

There were no illnesses or injuries during the incident.

Photos:
- Hazardous Incident Team on the 800 block of East Johnson Street;
- HIT member Troy McIntyre taking samples on East Washington Ave.