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Fire at Kadena HAZMAT Facility Releases Chlorine Gas, Affecting Dozens
Air Force Magazine ^ | June 22, 2020 | Jennifer Hlad

Posted on 06/22/2020 11:50:11 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

OKINAWA, Japan—About 45 people experienced symptoms of smoke and chlorine gas exposure June 22 at Kadena Air Base, after a fire at the 18th Wing Hazardous Materials Pharmacy sent hazardous particles and plumes of smoke billowing into the air.

Most of the individuals had mild symptoms and were treated and returned to duty, according to a base press release.

The fire began shortly before 9 a.m. at the HAZMAT building, which is in the central part of the base, south of the airfield. Emergency services responded and contained the fire by 10 a.m., though a shelter-in-place order for some areas and evacuation orders for others were issued and distributed via the base’s phone app.

The base medical clinic also canceled all routine appointments, while urging anyone with eye irritation, runny nose, or throat irritation to report to the medical group and anyone with shortness of breath or coughing to go to the emergency room.

“The fire on base has released chlorine gas particles,” a Facebook post announced. “If traveling by [privately owned vehicle], keep windows closed and the air conditioning off.”

Firefighters extinguished the fire around 2 p.m., and the evacuation orders for the area were lifted.

Base officials said they do not know what caused the fire, but that “bioenvioronmental personnel” and emergency responders were continuing to monitor the site to make sure there was no additional safety risk.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: japan; localnews
Where it says "Hazardous Materials Pharmacy" I think they mean "Hazardous Materials Facility".
1 posted on 06/22/2020 11:50:11 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

How long did it take the HAZMAT responders to respond to the fire at the HAZMAT facility?

I only ask this as I once lived in a small city with a volunteer fire department. A call came in of a house fire and by the time the fire department was assembled and ready to fight the fire it was more than an hour. That sad part was the house was in the alleyway directly behind the Fire Station.


2 posted on 06/22/2020 11:58:17 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

when this happens, just start protesting Trump or the police and you will be able to survive because protesting kills all virus’s and enables one to even breathe poison!


3 posted on 06/22/2020 12:14:58 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Spent a couple of months working at Kadena.
Nice air base. Probably a LOT of hazardous materials stored there - not to mention tons of munitions.
4 posted on 06/22/2020 12:15:12 PM PDT by Psalm 73
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Great.... there goes the ozone layer.


5 posted on 06/22/2020 12:19:49 PM PDT by A Voice (As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the end times.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

But you have to admit, a Hazardous Material Pharmacy would be an interesting idea.


6 posted on 06/22/2020 12:59:55 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Sure hope there wasn’t any phosgene around the chlorine.


7 posted on 06/22/2020 1:08:04 PM PDT by ryderann
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

No doubt, I pictured some crazy scenarios there.


8 posted on 06/22/2020 1:43:26 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Liberalism is a social disease.)
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To: ryderann

Yes, don’t smoke when doing refrigerator repair.


9 posted on 06/22/2020 1:43:57 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Liberalism is a social disease.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I hope Kumiko and Sato are okay . . . (Karate Kid 2)


10 posted on 06/22/2020 2:15:43 PM PDT by LRoggy (Peter's Son's Business)
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To: shotgun
1. God Bless All Volunteer Fire Men
2. Air Force Firemen (and all other branches for that matter) are a step or two above Volunteers.
11 posted on 06/22/2020 2:27:58 PM PDT by Valin
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