Officials: Chemical runoff from Freeport fire was contained

Chemical runoff from a Thursday fire at a Freeport factory that manufactures a metal-polishing agent was contained to the company's property and roadway and did not get into storm drains or a nearby canal, Nassau County fire authorities said.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office and fire investigators were concerned that runoff from a morning fire at the George Basch Co., 19 Hanse Ave., could have entered the drains and a nearby canal, said Vincent McManus, district supervisor for the fire marshal.

"Our hazmat guys were here doing some monitoring, because it is near a canal," McManus said, "but the runoff is local to the property and roadway."

There were no injuries and the fire appears accidental, McManus said. The company will hire a licensed cleanup contractor to address the issues on the property and roadway, he said.

The fire broke out at about 7:50 a.m., apparently because of a spark from a machine in the area of the plant restricted to manufacturing, McManus said. The area where chemicals and supplies are stored did not catch fire, he said.

The company makes Nevr-Dull, a metal polishing agent.

The Freeport Fire Department needed about an hour to extinguish the fire, McManus said. Other departments responding included Baldwin, Oceanside, North Merrick and Point Lookout.