FAIRFIELD -- A fire inside a chemical-laden building hurt three people -- and only quick, careful action from firefighters prevented a major disaster Wednesday, said Fire Chief Don Bennett.
"We were concerned about explosion of the entire building," at Tedia Co. Inc., a chemical packaging company at 2880 Symmes Road, Chief Bennett said.
But that was only one of many worries the chief faced at this fire, the third at Tedia in his 14 years with Fairfield.
Besides coordinating about two dozen safety workers from four area departments, Chief Bennett contended with the possible explosion of volatile chemicals and the environmental risks they might pose. He ordered evacuation of about 500 people from businesses in a quarter-mile radius -- and even contended with the threat of an unusual rubbernecker: a pilot flying his small, fixed-wing plane erratically and dangerously low.
"Not all sightseers are driving cars," said Chief Bennett, who said the unidentified pilot's actions will be part of the continuing investigation of the fire.
The blaze began just before 1 p.m., when an employee dropped a bottleful of a volatile chemical that burst into flames when it was exposed to air, Chief Bennett said.
The chemical splashed onto Jeff Carew, 29, of Hamilton, burning his hands, arms and upper torso, and causing breathing difficulty, Chief Bennett said.
Mr. Carew, described as the most seriously hurt, was listed in good condition late Wednesday at University Hospital.
The other injured workers, Paul Kelemen, 27, of Hamilton, and Edward Denier, 23, of Fairfield, were treated at Mercy Hospital Fairfield, then released.
The chemical was carbon disulfide, an organic liquid used in laboratory testing and industrial hygiene, said Burt Nalliah, director of operations for Tedia.
Mr. Nalliah said he was among the half-dozen employees who were nearby when the bottle was dropped and flames spread to cardboard and packaging materials.
"We thought we could contain it with a fire extinguisher, but we couldn't," said Mr. Nalliah.
Chief Bennett said he feared the burning materials would cause other bottles of chemicals to topple from shelves and ignite.
An unidentified employee pushed past onlookers and ran to the chief about 45 minutes after the fire started, showing him a floor plan he had scribbled onto a piece of brown paper.
That plan helped firefighters identify another passageway to attack the blaze, which was under control before 2 p.m., the chief said.
Although a 100-foot plume of white smoke billowed from a side door, emitting foul-smelling fumes, bystanders faced no serious danger, Chief Bennett said.
David Eck contributed.
