Gadsden, FL - On October 20th, Greensboro Volunteer Fire Rescue and Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a Hazardous Materials Incident with an unknown type chemical spill on the roadway in front of 3314 Greensboro Hwy (SR 12), just north of Interstate 10.

Prior to arrival of fire personnel, a passerby that moved two 55-gallon barrels to the side of the road, began experiencing a medical issue and was treated by Gadsden County EMS.

Greensboro Fire Chief Doug Stiles established command and began the process of setting up the hot zone, isolating the area which involved shutting down State Road 12, and assigning tasks to incoming units. Mount Pleasant personnel were assigned with investigating the scene and identifying the labeling on two 55-gallon drums that were on their side, with one leaking a greenish liquid. Greensboro personnel were assigned as the RIT. Command requested that the Tallahassee FD HazMat team be placed on stand by as well as law enforcement for traffic control.

Mount Pleasant Assistant Chief Clay Fallis and Mount Pleasant Firefighter Jim Roberts donned air packs and went downrange to investigate and identify the product labels and report back to the IC. Upon investigation Assistant Chief Fallis and Firefighter Roberts reported that the drums were labeled "Benefect DECON 30". Further investigation found that the product was disinfectant made of botanical thyme oil and a subsequent check of the manufacturer's (Benefect) website by Mt. Pleasant and Greensboro personnel confirmed the product safety data sheet (SDS) that indicated the HMIS ratings as Health - 0 / Flammability - 0 / Reactivity - 0.

Command was also able to confirm with Tallahassee FD HazMat personnel that the substance was non-hazardous and did not require PPE. The SDS indicated that it could be washed down with water and Greensboro personnel conducted the wash down.