Amazon center in Lexington evacuated; injuries reported after package emits vapor
Vapor from a package led to the evacuation Friday of about 500 Amazon employees at the Mercer Road fulfillment center, according to the Lexington Fire Department.
The package was a commercial box with an unknown dry powder inside, fire Maj. Jordan Saas said. The return package was marked as a leaking box.
The powder mixed with an incompatible liquid which produced the vapor, Saas said. The package has since been secured and will be disposed of by environmental contractors, Saas said.
After Amazon reported the package was emitting vapor a little before 9 a.m., the department’s hazmat team removed the package from the building about 10:10 a.m. Final air monitor readings from the center were zero, according to Lexington Fire Department.
An industrial hygienist was at the center as an Amazon consultant to examine the incident while the fire department was beginning clean up, the fire department said on Twitter.
Six people reported non-life-threatening injuries, according to Saas. They reported throat irritation and burning in their eyes, Saas said.
They were treated at the scene, and one was transported in an ambulance to a local hospital.
“The safety of our employees is our top priority, and as such, all employees at the site were promptly evacuated and relocated to a safe place,” Rachael Lighty, regional manager, external communications for Amazon Operations, said in an email.
According to police, the package at the center smelled like chlorine. But Saas said the content of the package hadn’t been determined.
At least 18 fire department vehicles responded to the incident.
Four city buses were called to transport non-impacted employees to Lexington’s other Amazon facility on Trade Street.
In a tweet, Lexington Fire Department said Amazon employees are expected to go back to work Friday evening.
Lighty said the incident would not impact any Amazon deliveries in the area.
This story was originally published August 2, 2019 at 9:45 AM.