Police and emergency services attend the scene of a chemical spill in Motueka.
Motueka residents and police officers were put through a decontamination tent as a precaution after a chemical spill in the town’s main street.
The residents, including a family with a baby, had walked through the area at the corner of High St and Tudor St where the spill of about 190-litres of Hi-Cane hydrogen cyanamide occurred from a barrel on a container truck about 11.30am.
Mark and Alison Hossain and their 10-month-old son Barney had to be treated for exposure to harmful chemicals after they accidentally pushed Barney’s pram directly through the spill.
Out for a stroll on Mark’s day off, the family found themselves going through a full decontamination procedure with emergency services.
Police and emergency services attend the scene of a chemical spill in Motueka.
“We certainly didn’t expect this,” Alison said.
The pram was taken away by the fire service for special cleaning.
Assistant area fire commander Des Irving said nine residents and officers received decontamination treatment in a tent set up at the scene.
Other nearby residents were being asked to stay indoors with their windows closed.
Senior station officer Craig Davies said the area had been cordoned off 250-metres in each direction to avoid spreading the risk.
“We’re going to contain the spill, absorb it and remove it,” he said.
Three painters from Smith’s Painting Contractors were working at Mitre 10 on High St when the spill happened.
Police told them to evacuate the building immediately and said it could be a few hours before they would be able to return.
Mike Frahm said he saw liquid leaking from a truck that was parked on the side of the road and alerted the driver to it.
During the process of helping the driver with the leaking drum, he got the chemical on his hands and had to receive decontamination treatment.
A police spokesman said they received a call from a member of the public at 11.26am who stated that a container was leaking on the back of a truck and as it drove from Tudor St onto High St.
Hydrogen cyanamide, known as Hi-Cane is sprayed on kiwifruit vines to increase the number of fruit on the vines, promote bud break and ensure earlier and shorter flowering.
Tasman District Council spokesman Chris Choat said 190-litres of Hi-Cane had been spilt on the road and it was covered with sawdust and sand which neutralised the toxic substance.
“What we’ve done already is we’ve sealed all entry into waterways, storm water and waste water so it can’t enter those systems.
“There is a cordon and we’re asking people to stay away at this stage while we clean it up.
“It’s a horticultural chemical but our guys are across it, our engineering staff are there.
“Obviously we want to get it rid of it as quickly as possible.”
Dan Crawford of Antonius European Bakery on High St in Motueka said they were told by police to remain inside.
He said no customers were coming in and they would not be leaving until they were told they could.
Parklands School secretary Penny Bedford said they had also been notified by police to stay indoors after the chemical spill.
“All of the children were inside and we will be keeping them inside with doors closed and windows closed until we’re notified further,” she said.
– Stuff