Fire officials respond to potential hazmat situation in Tooele area

TOOELE, Utah — The North Tooele Fire District said they responded to a potential hazmat situation near I-80 on Wednesday.

The fire district initially responded to a report of a cardiac arrest, but due to the kind of work done at the site, officials responded as if it was a hazmat situation. 

Upon arrival, authorities found the body of a man who had died on the site. On Wednesday night, the cause of death was unverified. 

North Tooele fire spokesman Jon Smith told KSL TV that hazmat crews from Unified Fire, the Tooele Army Depot, and others responded because the company deals in volatile chemicals.

According to Smith, the chemicals are removed from train cars, converted into a different form, and then sent back out.

“Anytime you’re dealing with volatile chemicals, you don’t know if it’s solid, gas, liquid. You don’t know if it’s combustible or non-combustible,” said Smith.

Smith said a family member found an employee unresponsive and called 911.

According to official statements, the incident posed no danger to the general public.

Mark Jackson contributed to this article.

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