Hazmat team called to Port of Vancouver cannery after hazardous chemical mixture reported

Medical personnel evaluated 12 employees who potentially inhaled a hazardous chemical mixture Tuesday morning at Northwest Packing Co. at the Port of Vancouver.

The Vancouver Fire Department responded at about 11 a.m. to the processing plant at 1701 W. 16th St. Members of the Hazardous Materials Team responded, along with three engines and a ladder truck, for a total of 17 fire department personnel, according to a news release.

The exposure was caused when two acids were accidentally combined into the same storage container, according to the fire department.

Twelve employees who were in the area were evacuated and evaluated by AMR personnel. All of the employees refused to be transported to local hospitals, the news release states.

The Vancouver fire HazMat Team entered the building wearing chemical suits to check on the chemicals and to shut down plant operations that could not continue without supervision, the department said.

Northwest Packing Co. is a fruit cannery facility.