11 Firefighters Treated for Acid Burns: Unitech Factory Fire
Eleven firefighters had to be treated in hospital after being injured by acid burns and inhalation, while fighting a fire at a factory in Tucheng yesterday evening, September 28.
The factory belongs to printed circuit board manufacturer Unitech.
According to Liberty Times Network, Unitech staff at the Tucheng factory are suspected to have deliberately concealed the fact that there were hazardous materials on site, putting firefighters lives in danger.
New Taipei City Fire Bureau received a report of the fire at around 6:00pm. Thirty vehicles were dispatched to the 6 storey factory.
The firefighters were wearing breathing apparatus and were on the 4th floor of the factory where smoke was billowing out of a ventilator. Sulfuric acid stored on the 6th floor leaked and dripped onto the firefighters.
Colleagues hosed the men off using their firefighting hoses, and the contaminated firefighters were rushed to Far Eastern Hospital.
The acid damaged equipment, clothing, and caused skin burns. According to Liberty Times, a firefighter said that no staff from the factory had shown up to guide firefighters or inform them of the nature of materials stored on site.
A fire at the Tucheng factory in April 2015, took 18 hours to extinguish. Ten tons of fuel oil were stored at the factory. In July of the same year, an explosion at the company’s Ilan County factory injured 1 person.
The company, was investigated earlier this year after 4 workers died at a factory in Ilan County.
New Taipei City Fire Bureau said it will seek compensation from the company for damaged equipment, which includes, breathing apparatus, visors and helmets.
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