Runoff from fire at Eastern Townships additives plant contained hazardous chemicals, ministry says

Quebec's Environment Ministry says hazardous chemicals seeped into the area around a chemical plant in Bolton-Est, in the province's Eastern Townships, after a fire destroyed it on Friday. 

The fire, which started at the Polyrheo plant just north of South Bolton around 5:30 a.m., drew dozens of firefighters who battled the blaze for hours. As they hosed the warehouse-like structure, bright green runoff seeped from the building. 

First, the fire emitted dark white smoke, followed by a dense plume of black. Later that day, the runoff stained a nearby creek green, and all weekend, contaminated water pooled in a retention trench dug around the plant.   

The Polyrheo plant made additives, according to Tony Thomas, the company's president and CEO. 

He told CBC in an email that production at the site had been slow, but it had been producing chemicals nonetheless, including boiler treatment chemicals and "certain package products, like windshield washer fluids, citronella oils etc."

But the firefighters on the scene on Friday didn't know that. Pierre Desmarais, chief of the Austin fire department said Friday they had tried to get ahold of someone from the company to understand what products were inside. 

"I spoke to people, but those people just referred me to other people and for now we can't get the detailed list," he said on Friday. Desmarais said he wasn't aware of a specific emergency plan for the facility, but noted he had only recently become fire chief. 

The Environment Ministry said it only got the list of chemicals on Saturday — long after the fire was out. 

Thomas said in a message that he and another manager were on their way back from a trade show in Germany on Friday — which is why there was a delay in getting the list to firefighters. 

He said they met local authorities on Friday evening and discussed "necessary protocols to be followed, to protect the environment and neighbourhood."

But he said the plant is old. It was built in 1982 and was first known as Lutzman Chemicals and later as LBG Industries. He said the city and fire department know it well and regularly visit the plant, doing so as recently as two months ago.

"But since it is a sensitive subject, they wanted someone from our facility to exactly say what was there and confirm," he said. 

Thomas described the materials stored at the plant as "mostly non haz[ardous] chemicals." 

But in an email, a spokesperson for Quebec's Environment Ministry said hazardous materials, "mainly alcohols, as well as ionic compounds (salts), solid inorganic compounds and insecticide-type products, were stored at the time of the fire."

A mobile laboratory dispatched to the fire on Friday performed tests on the area around the plant and found the presence of "volatile organic compounds" in the extinguishing water.

The ministry's response team took additional samples from the runoff and from the creek that runs beside the plant. The results of those tests will be received in the coming weeks, the ministry spokesperson said. 

During the fire, municipal officials for Bolton-Est recommended people who live near the fire stay indoors and not drink their well water. But that restriction was lifted later that day. 

The spokesperson also said the company has been mandated to implement measures to "recover the contamination and implement the measures required to protect the environment and public health."

"The Ministry is closely monitoring developments and remains ready to intervene if necessary," the spokesperson said. "Should any breaches of environmental legislation be identified, the Ministry will not rule out any recourse to ensure a rapid return to compliance."

Thomas said the company is prioritizing the cleanup and conducting site analyses to ensure there is no contamination in the area. 

"We have started the clean-up process and monitoring all environmental areas of concern. Rest assured, this is our top priority and you have our commitment on this," he said. "Fortunately activities have been slow at the plant, hence chemicals storage has been on the lower side."

He said no one was at the plant when the fire broke out. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. He said it could have been an electrical shortage.