Sulfur Dioxide Emergency: Multi-Agency Hazmat Response Ventilates Trumbull Residence

Trumbull, CT - An accidental cut to a vintage 1940s-era refrigerator refrigerant line triggered the release of toxic sulfur dioxide gas Monday morning, prompting a specialized three-hour regional hazmat response to isolate and ventilate the dwelling.

First responders from the Long Hill Volunteer Fire Company, with mutual aid assistance from the Trumbull Center Fire Department, were dispatched at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, following reports of an unknown substance actively leaking inside a residential home.

Upon initiating an interior investigation, crews discovered that the homeowner had been dismantling an antique refrigerator for removal and inadvertently sliced through an intact refrigerant copper line.

During initial entry, firefighters' atmospheric monitoring meters detected elevated, dangerous concentrations of sulfur dioxide—a legacy refrigerant known for severe respiratory and toxic hazards—forcing personnel to immediately back out of the structure and set up a hazardous materials perimeter.

Long Hill command coordinated closely with the Fairfield County Hazardous Incident Response Team and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) to safely contain the active leak, neutralize residual contaminants, and establish high-capacity positive-pressure ventilation to clear the building.

Fire and hazmat personnel operated on scene for roughly three hours to ensure safe air quality levels before releasing the residence. No injuries were reported.