Hazmat situation in Rossville

ROSSVILLE, Georgia – The Walker County Fire Department is investigating a hazmat situation in Rossville right now.

The Chattanooga Fire Department confirms that they are going to assist with the investigation.

Joe Leggee with Walker County say that vandals caused an oil spill that prompted a hazmat response at the Coats American building on Maple Street.

It was called in after a resident noticed an oily sheen and notified a Rossville police officer. They identified that it was coming from the Coats building.

After crews responded around 7:15 p.m., they discovered a transformer inside the building had been vandalized.

The transformer, labeled PCB, holds approximately 55 gallons of oil.

Legge says they “notified Georgia EPD and their counterpart in Tennessee.”

SRT Environmental was brought in to contain the spill.

Chattanooga Hazmat also responded and confirmed the presence of PCB in the oil.

A criminal investigation is underway and anyone who saw anything suspicious around this building, is urged to contact the Rossville Police Department or Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

Maple Street at McFarland Avenue, Williams Street and Flegal Avenue is closed at this time.

Legge says that, this building was donated to Walker County in 2007.

#HAPPENINGNOW Hazmat situation in Rossville. Working to learn more about what’s happening at the scene. @wdefnews12 pic.twitter.com/7xLiznvBlP

— Amber Worthy (@AWorthyNews) March 12, 2018