On Wednesday, August 20, at 11:06 a.m. The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) responded to the 2400 block of N. Chelton Rd for a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incident that resulted in significant injuries.
Initial information from parties on scene was that a sanitation worker was dumping trash into a trash truck and was exposed to an unknown substance. The parties on scene reported that the individual involved had been severely burned by the substance.
CSFD Engine 7 arrived on scene at 11:10 a.m. to an adult male with chemical burns to 60% of his body. The patient was loaded into the ambulance and transported to an area hospital. Following arrival, the patient was then air-lifted to a Denver hospital in critical condition due to the extent of his injuries. At the time of this release current status of the patient was not readily available.
HAZMAT 14 and Engine 14 responded to the scene to investigate the unknown substance. HAZMAT crews safely entered the scene in proper personal protective equipment to obtain a sample of the substance. Upon further investigation and tests, HAZMAT crews determined the substance to be sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive liquid used in items such as car batteries or drain cleaners. It is unknown how or why the sulfuric acid was improperly disposed of.
Fire crews remained on scene for further clean-up efforts. The trash truck involved was safely removed from the incident location and will undergo additional cleaning. City Stormwater also responded to test a drain nearby as a precaution to ensure none of the sulfuric acid spread into the drains.
CSFD would like to remind the public to refrain from disposing of any hazardous materials in their household trash cans. Improper disposal of these materials can lead to explosions, fires, and significant injuries. Always properly dispose of hazardous materials at a designated facility, such as the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
N. Chelton Rd. was closed between Maizeland Rd. and Pine Bluff Rd. for about three hours while crews worked the incident. It has since reopened.