Chemical spill evacuates Merck lab in Boston

BOSTON -- Boston Fire Department crews were on the scene of a chemical reaction at Merck Research Laboratories Thursday morning.

The building is located at 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur in the Fenway area.

Officials classified the incident as a level 3 hazmat situation, which is the highest possible.
"This is a level 3, which would be a chemical incident with a minor explosion or a major spill," said Deputy Chief Joseph Fleming, of the Boston Fire Dept.

Officials said two employees from a chemical waste cleanup company were working in the hazardous material storage room near the loading dock when there was some sort of reaction between two chemicals in a drum.
"They [employees] were smart, they closed the door behind them, which pretty much seals off the materials, the chemicals from the rest of the building, then they called us," said Fleming.

Crews evacuated 350 employees and sealed off the area.

No injuries were reported.

"They were smart to call us, because you could not enter that room without the proper protective gear," said Fleming. 

The Merck research facility develops and discovers medicines for cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

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