Hazardous materials incident in Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM – Police and firefighters Tuesday morning responded to a hazardous materials incident at SABIC in Selkirk, police said.

The incident happened at about 6 a.m. when an unknown amount of Styrene was released from a rail car on the SABIC property, Bethlehem Police said.

No injuries were reported.

A release did not describe any potential impact of the release, but Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple later indicated on Twitter that a half mile around the site was being evacuated.

The evacuation area does not include homes, but authorities were asking anyone within a mile of the site to shelter in place and monitor news. Apple described the moves as a precaution.

The incident led to the closures of State Route 32 from Feura Bush Road to County Route 308 and Creble Road from State Route 32 to Elm Avenue.

There is a problem with a tank car at SABIC. We are evacuating 1/2 mile which currently does not include residences at this time. We are asking anyone with in 1 mile to shelter in place and monitor the media and news for more info. This is only as a precaution more to come. pic.twitter.com/5fRP8Dlgy6

— Craig D Apple (@CraigDApplesr) September 1, 2020

Among those assisting on scene was the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Craig Apple tweeted that the department’s drone unit was on site and able to monitor temperatures and activity without sending in first responders.

SABIC is a plastics company and, in 2018, announced an expansion of its research and development in Selkirk, according to Plastics News. The expansion included equipment, labs and a raw materials warehouse, the site wrote.

Our Drone Unit is out assisting Selkirk Fire with a Hazmat incident at CSX. We are able to monitor temps and activity without sending in first responders. #usetechnology #savelives pic.twitter.com/LjJsLxVoye

— Craig D Apple (@CraigDApplesr) September 1, 2020

Categories: News, Schenectady County, The Daily Gazette