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Police close part of U.S. 17
A file at Lyondell Chemical Co.,
formerly Millennium Specialty Chemicals, prompted police and other emergency
officials to close south U.S. 17 on Colonel's Island shortly after 7:20 a.m.
Thursday.
Oil from a batch reactor at the plant
on colonel's island leaked and caught fire when it reached the air, resulting in
a large bang and black smoke, said plant manager Kimberly Antic. No
injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
The leakage was because of an
equipment failure, a spokesperson for the company said.
Antic said the plant's emergency
response team responded immediately and quickly put out the fire with the help
from the Glynn County Fire Department.
No toxic chemicals were released into
the air, and the plant continued to operate at all times, Antic said. The
fire was contained in one area of the plant.
The plant, located on a 192-acre site
on Colonel's Island, produces terpene-based fragrance ingredients flavor
ingredients, primarily for the oral-care market. It employs 47 workers.
Glynn County fire officials said two
fire engines, an aerial ladder truck and an ambulance were dispatched to the
site.
Glynn County Fire Chief Al
Thomas said firefighters responded to the call at 7:23 a.m. The fire was
out by 7:37 a.m., Thomas said.
Police closed an approximately
two-mile stretch of U.S. 17, from Satilla Drive to about one-half mile beyond
the Colonel's Island entrance, from about 7:15 to 7:45 a.m. Thursday, said Glynn
County Police Chief Matt Doering. He said the closure was a precaution to
protect motorists from potential exposure to chemicals that could have been
carried by the wind, though that was never a problem.
Satilla Marsh Elementary School
Principal Kathie Matthews said she and several students were delayed getting to
school because of the closure of U.S. 17, which is the main route between
Brunswick and the school.
In December 2004, Lyondell Chemical
Co., headquartered in Houston, purchased Millennium Specialty Chemicals.
Cooling agents manufactured at the
Brunswick facility provide the cooling effect found in chewing gum and
toothpaste.
The company also manufactures
products for several other applications, including household cleansers,
detergents, soaps and solvents.
Key products from the Colonel's
Island facility, which are still marketed under the "Millennium" product line
are derivatives of crude turpentine, which is processed at the company's
Jacksonville, Fla., facility.
Antic said a team will be assembled
to investigate the exact cause of the fire.
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