Fires result in chemical spill at Chattanooga plant

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Multiple small fires broke out at a chemical plant near Amnicola Highway Monday morning, resulting in a chemical spill.

It happened around 8 a.m. at Zeco, located at 4146 South Creek Road, the Chattanooga Fire Department said.

Employees stated there was a fire outside the breakroom, but firefighters later found several small fires in the building. The Chattanooga Fire Department said they extinguished the fires with dry chemical extinguishers.

“They also shut off product flowing to a tank inside the facility,” the fire department stated.

Fire officials said that totes in the building were leaking organic peroxide due to the fires.

Chemical spill cleanup / Chattanooga Fire Dept.

Some runoff got outside the facility, and Hepaco came to help clean up.

Two other businesses near Zeco were evacuated as a precaution.

Hazmat crews also decontaminated the firefighters’ gear as they left the building because of the products involved.

Decontamination / Chattanooga Fire Dept.

Authorities are investigating to determine what caused the fire.

Fire officials said nobody was injured.