Posted on 01/30/2006 10:13:33 AM PST by sheikdetailfeather
Radiation Detected After Industrial Accident Prompts Evacuations
POSTED: 11:20 am EST January 30, 2006 UPDATED: 12:36 pm EST January 30, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Fire-Rescue personnel said that an explosion this morning in 7500 bock of Baymeadows Way that has resulted in the release of radiation inside a building.
The Unison Industries building was evacuated and police have blocked streets in the area.
Members of the hazardous material team report picking up radiation with their Geiger counters. There's no word on whether anyone was exposed.
Unison's director of communications said a gas cylinder exploded in the facility about 10:45 a.m., but said no radioactive material was released.
Channel 4 learned that the explosion hurt one person and transported to St. Luke's Hospital, but there was no information about the extent of that person's injuries.
About 500 employees work at Unison's Baymeadows Way facility were evacuated.
About 40 people from the company and the first firefighters and rescue personnel who responded were going through decontamination procedures.
"We have what we call a Beta-source. This is about the equivalent, if you will, of X-rays," Jacksonville Fire-Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said. "We are not faced with a life-or-death situation here."
Twelve ambulances were called to the scene and Shands-Jacksonville was put on level-three alert.
Unison's Web site, the company makes aviation parts, with power condition and control units made at the company's Jacksonville facility.
Tiny 4 logoChannel 4 has two crews working on the incident. Refresh this story for updates and watch the local station beginning at 5 p.m. for live reports.
Copyright 2006 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thanks!
Abunai !
Bozos. Probably picked up from sunlight. MSM can't wait to be the first to declare a disaster.
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