DEEP, Local Partners Respond To Waterbury Scrapyard Fire

Press release from DEEP:

March 1, 2021

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Emergency Response Unit responded this morning to a scrapyard fire at 225 East Aurora St. in Waterbury, along with the Connecticut National Guard Civil Support Team and local fire personnel.

The cause of the fire is petroleum-based, and petroleum has impacted the Naugatuck River. Booms are being deployed by DEEP personnel to contain run-off. We are directing the property owner to hire a contractor to run samples of the impacted water for volatile organic compounds, semi volatile organic compounds, and metals.

DEEP is also providing drone support for aerial visibility, and has enlisted the assistance of the Connecticut National Guard’s Mobile Lab for onsite air monitoring assistance/lab analysis. Wireless monitoring is being performed to check for toxic compounds.

This press release was produced by DEEP. The views expressed here are the author's own.