Package Causes Vapor Cloud at UPS Facility

While UPS workers were unloading a truck at the UPS facility in Shrewsbury, they discovered a package that was damaged and leaking.

At about 2:30 p.m., the along with the state hazardous materials team responded to the facility.

"We don't know what chemical was in the package, but it was corrosive," said Shrewsbury Fire Capt. Seth Colby. "It caused an exothermic reaction and the package, along with any labels, were destroyed."

Colby said a Tier 1 Response was triggered after the package was found, which resulted in the state hazardous materials team to respond. "We know it was a fairly strong acid and it caused a vapor cloud in the trailer, but we don't know what the substance was."

The workers unloading the truck immediately closed the trailer and called 911, Colby said. The state Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the scene.

Colby said no injuries were reported after the incident and Clean Harbors was cleaning up the spill after UPS hired them.

He also said smaller quantities of chemicals are usually transported by UPS and Federal Express, but larger quantities are usually transported by a tanker.

The Route 20 entrance to the UPS facility was closed while the fire department assisted and investigated the incident. No traffic was backed up on Route 20.