Tulsa Fire Department Responds To Fire At Hazardous Waste Facility

Berryhill and Tulsa Fire Departments were called to a fire at a hazardous waste facility Friday morning.  The facility, located at 2700 South 25th West Avenue is operated by EQ Oklahoma. 

The fire department says the combination of two dry ingredients caused a reaction that created a cloud, but the incident was contained next to a building.

The City of Tulsa said light winds helped keep the cloud of white smoke with an irritating odor from spreading very far, however there was a report of a chemical odor to the west.

Very few people live around the industrial area, but as a precaution, TFD asked the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office to secure the area, and tell residents to stay inside, according to a release from the city.

EMSA responded with two ambulances, which staged nearby.

The Tulsa Fire Department's HazMat team drove around the area with meters and found no readings of any hazardous chemicals. 

EQ Oklahoma issued the following statement this morning:

At approximately 7 a.m., plant personnel at EQ Oklahoma observed steam from a reaction taking place in an open-topped treatment box.  After determining that the reaction was not abating, plant management called for fire emergency response at 9:35 a.m. and instructed the office and some plant personnel to assemble outside the main gate.  By approximately 9:50 a.m., the Tulsa and Berryhill Fire Departments were onsite and the reaction had been brought under control.  The company was treating metal-bearing wastes at the time of the reaction and is working with authorities to determine the cause.  

Tulsa Public Schools said they were on standby to for possible evacuation or shelter in place of both Eugene Field and Park Elementary Schools.

The City of Tulsa said HazMat and the personnel at EQ Oklahoma were able to stop the reaction just before noon, and TFD has left the scene.

By late afternoon, EQ said the investigation is ongoing.

"Our preliminary analysis indicates that the metals being treating were cadmium, chromium and lead while our ongoing analysis will focus on characterizing the cause of the incident in more detail. Earlier today Tulsa Fire Department's Hazmat teams took readings around the facility and there were no indication of toxic products in the air," the agency said.