A maintenance worker is recovering after a chemical leak led to a hazmat situation at a Northeast Philadelphia high school.
Officials say they received a call reporting a chemical leak at the Benjamin Rush School on the 11000 block of Knights Road at 7:12 p.m. on Tuesday. When crews arrived, they discovered that there was a release of freon inside the school basement. Freon is a cooling agent often used in air conditioners.
"What we found in the basement was a mechanical failure," said Philadelphia Fire Deputy Commissioner Jesse Wilson. "That mechanical failure caused a 600-pound vessel of freon[[to leak]], typical freon that you can buy in a Pep Boys or any place like that."
A Hazmat situation was declared at 7:29 p.m. Officials say a maintenance worker was injured during the incident. He was taken to Aria-Torresdale Hospital, treated for dizziness and is currently in stable condition.
The incident was placed under control around 10:30 p.m.
"On the exterior of the building now, all readings are negative and there is no danger to the community," Wilson said.
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Police Public Affairs initially reported that the leak caused an explosion inside the basement. Fire officials say the explosion has not yet been confirmed however. They continue to investigate.
