SAN JACINTO: Mercury spill at home displaces family
A Haz-Mat Team spent more than two hours attempting to fully clean up a mercury spill Tuesday, Jan. 20. Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photo
SAN JACINTO — A San Jacinto family was displaced earlier this evening, when Haz-Mat and Environmental Health officials were unable to give their home the all-clear after liquid mercury was spilled inside the residence.
The Haz-mat emergency happened in a residential neighborhood on the 1700 block of Wheelbarrow Way, west of N. Ramona Boulevard.
Ten firefighters from two engine companies responded to the home shortly before 6 p.m., Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report. They were assisted by a Hazardous Materials Team.
“The first arriving engine company reported approximately two ounces of mercury released on a tile surface, with no run off,” said Newman.
According to EPA officials, metallic mercury is a shiny, silvery, liquid metal, which can cause serious health problems and even result in death when exposed to large amounts or for prolonged periods. Some of the warning signs of potential mercury poisoning include tremors, confusion, memory loss, neuromuscular changes, respiratory and eye irritation, chest pain, and kidney damage.
Based on the dangers posed by inhaling liquid mercury vapor, Riverside County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team and Riverside County’s Environmental Health were summoned to the scene.
Haz-Mat Team members discuss the clean-up efforts with other fire and Environmental Health officials. Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photo
Hazardous Materials Team members suited up in Haz-Mat suits and breathing gear and spent about two hours cleaning up the spill. However, Environmental Health officials were ultimately unable to declare the residence safe after they discovered levels of mercury that were “50 times” higher than safe, acceptable levels.
Following Environmental Health officials’ announcement that the home was too contaminated to stay the residents were forced to find another location to stay for the evening, according to Newman.
Officials did not specify how the spill happened or why the family had such a large amount of the toxic liquid, which can be used to make thermometers, barometers and other scientific instruments. Mercury also conducts electricity and is used to make silent, position dependent switches.
The family displaced by the spill will not be allowed to return home until their residence has been cleared by Environmental Health officials. “Environmental Health has taken lead on the incident and will make arrangements tomorrow for clean up of the product,” said Newman.
No other homes were affected by the spill and there were no reported injuries.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.