Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Near Rock, North Cornwall at 10/08/2020 07:29

At 07:29 we received a 999 call from a industrial unit near Rock, North Cornwall, where a spillage has occurred involving a significant quantity of hydrochloric acid.

Three appliances from Wadebridge, Delabole and Bodmin were mobilised, along with an Environmental Support Vehicle and Support Pump from Saltash, and an Incident Command Unit from Launceston. An Area Manager is currently the Incident Commander and is assisted on scene with a Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection Advisor and Command Support Officer.

A Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection Advisor is also providing tactical advice in the Critical Control Centre.

We have requested assistance from Devon and Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service, Cornwall Council, Environment Agency, South West Water and Public Health England.

Crews are currently developing their tactical plan and looking at what operational tactics will be required to safely resolve the incident.

UPDATE 09:07 - Up to 1000 litres of hydrochloric acid has leaked from a container into a contained drainage system. No casualties are involved. The company involved are arranging for a specialist contractor to clean up the spillage.

UPDATE 14:12 - Incident has officially been handed back to the company who own the site, and a specialist contractor is now managing the recovery phase of the incident. The vast majority of the acid drained away and was contained in an underground tank designed for such emergencies. A very small amount of acid remained overground within the bunding (containment) around the tank. We were assisted by a range of agencies including South West Water, Environment Agency and Public Health England, all of whom have satisfied themselves that there is no risk to the wider public or environment.