Sulfuric Acid Cloud Over Baltimore
Baltimore Sunpapers photo
A pinhole leak in a discharge pipe of a 4X10-foot sulfur-trioxide tank at a Proctor & Gamble plant on the Baltimore, Md., waterfront developed into a low-lying sulfuric acid cloud which affected an estimated 300,000 residents of Baltimore City and Baltimore County last January 4.
Although the leak was discovered by plant employees around 4 p.m., it was not reported to the Baltimore City Fire Department until 6:28 p.m. By then, sulfur-trioxide (SO3)had mixed with heavy moisture in the air and turned into sulfuric acid, which completely deteriorated the discharge pipe. As the sulfur-trioxide poured out of the pipe, a large cloud began to form over the plant. Plant employees immediately evacuated the area while a plant supervisor called the fire department.
Baltimore City communications dispatched four engine companies, two truck companies and a battalion chief to the plant. On advice from the plant supervisor, units responding were told by radio to don self-contained breathing apparatus before reaching the scene. Units were also advised that water should not be used directly on the spill area.
Populous areas hit
Even while the first-alarm companies were responding, the huge gas cloud, pushed by gentle south westerly breezes, began to move across the harbor into the densely populated sections of northeastern Baltimore. Almost immediately, phone lines at communications became jammed as the irritating, choking fog spread over more and more residences. As engine and truck companies were dispatched to these areas, two fireboats used water curtains in an attempt to disperse the cloud over the harbor.
At Baltimore City fire communications, it was now readily apparent that a major emergency existed. Deputy Chief Edward J. Schneider set up a main command post to coordinate the activities of three field command posts that directed units operating in their areas. The field command posts also were staging areas for extra air bottles. Depleted air bottles could not be recharged by fire department air compressor units because of the threat of contamination from the vapor cloud.
Since both police officers and fire fighters were using breathing apparatus, the need for additional air bottles soon became critical. Mutual aid was requested from Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties for additional air cascade units and air bottles. The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at College Park also dispatched three air-cascade units with extra air bottles and masks.
Situation gets worse
Conditions quickly worsened as the vapor cloud continued to cut a northerly swath through the city. Five additional phone lines were placed in service in an attempt to relieve the overwhelmed switchboards at Baltimore City fire communications. Off-duty command personnel, including Chief Thomas J. Burke, were called to the main command post. As the flood of calls continued, even Burke found himself manning phones.
Calls reporting persons being overcome by fumes quickly depleted the city’s 16-unit ambulance fleet. Mutual aid was again requested from Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties for more ambulances.
Baltimore News-American photo
As the cloud continued to spread throughout the metropolitan area, a decision was made to advise all residents to stay indoors until the cloud passed. This message was relayed to Baltimore’s broadcast media and all three network-affiliated television stations interrupted their regularly scheduled programs with live cut-ins to alert viewers to what was happening. Baltimore Mayor Schaefer went on the air with an assessment of the situation and reassured those in the vicinity of the vapor cloud that there was no cause for great alarm.
Inhabitants warned
Additional engine companies were dispatched to key city locations in the path of the cloud to warn people of the impending danger. Pedestrians were told to seek immediate shelter inside the closest commercial establishment.
Meanwhile, as the vapor continued its northerly course, Baltimore County Fire Department officials were notified by the city that the sulfur-trioxide cloud was approaching their jurisdiction. Communications personnel, like their counterparts in the city, consulted every hazardous materials guide available to gain as much information as possible on sulfur-trioxide.
Deputy Chief Russell E. Palmer, in charge of field operations, began to put the Baltimore County Fire Department’s emergency plan into operation. Off-duty staff and command officers were notified to report to the county’s Towson headquarters. All companies in the central and eastern sections of the county were advised over the air that the vapor was spreading to their areas. Extra personnel were assigned to Battalion Chiefs 4 and 6 and these units were given the responsibility of reporting on the location and intensity of the vapor. Baltimore County police units also tracked the vapor cloud. Based on these reports, Palmer began to chart the cloud’s path as it entered the county.
Upon arriving at his office, Baltimore County Chief Paul H. Reincke immediately called the CHEMTREC office in Washington, D. C., to obtain more detailed information on the procedures and precautions to follow in dealing with the vapor cloud. This exchange of information continued throughout the emergency.
Although the fumes were not as widespread as in the city, certain lowlying areas of the county were especially hard hit. Engine companies and ambulances were dispatched to three nursing homes to assist residents in battling the invading fumes. Fire fighters shut off all air-recirculating equipment, stuffed pillows in door and window openings and in several instances used smoke ejectors to move fumes out of the buildings. In the process, two EMTs were overcome by fumes and were taken to Franklin Square Hospital.
In tracking the cloud, Palmer soon noticed that it appeared to be following the path of the Gunpowder River as it traveled northward through the central part of the county. As a precaution, 13 volunteer fire companies were alerted to stand by at their stations. Equipment from the Jacksonville Station, directly in the path of the approaching cloud, was transferred to the Cockeysville Station.
Task forces formed
Two special task forces were also formed. Task Force A, consisting of eight engine companies, one truck company and five ambulances, assembled at the Fire Academy in Towson while Task Force B with three engines, one truck and three ambulances, reported to Station 8 at Fullerton.
As the cloud moved into the upper regions of the county, Palmer requested assistance from the aviation division of the Maryland State Police and a medevac helicopter was dispatched to the Towson headquarters. From the helicopter, Palmer visually tracked the cloud as it moved into Pennsylvania and declared Baltimore County “all clear” at 10:56 p.m.
In all, over 100 persons were treated for inhalation of fumes during the 4½-hour incident. Officials felt that there was a silver lining to the ominous cloud in the fact that the night’s gentle breezes dissipated the sulfur-trioxide so that no lethally high concentrations were formed. Had there been no wind, officials felt that the leaking chemical could have had a much more serious effect on persons in the plant’s immediate vicinity.
Staffs praised
Both Burke and Reincke had high praise for the performance of t heir per sonnel under difficult field conditions. Both chiefs commended their communications staffs for maintaining effective operations under the chaotic conditions caused by thousands of phone calls.
Burke said he never in the world dreamed it was possible that a chemical leak could cover the city and such a widespread geographical area of the state so quickly.
“Our disaster plans,” Burke commented, “are designed to localize the incident, establish safe parameters and evacuate those in danger. But how do you quickly evacuate hundreds of thousands of people? We’ll have to consider this incident with respect to designing our future disaster plans. And we are not alone, this could happen almost anywhere over the state.”
Baltimore Sunpapers photo
