An emergency situation unfolded at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center when a liquid oxygen tank began leaking, prompting swift intervention from Hazmat One crew and the Milwaukee Fire Department; the incident, which occurred on Sept. 17, led to two small buildings being evacuated, though not the main hospital itself, FOX6 News reported.
According to WISN, responders were faced with the challenge of stopping the leak from the highly combustible liquid oxygen which proved unmanageable via the tank valves and as a precaution, they decided to let the tank drain to avoid further risks such as severe burns or frostbite since liquid oxygen produced visible ice formations upon hitting the ground due to the fact that it is hazardous.
The Milwaukee Fire Department's Hazmat team was on scene for an estimated hour and a half to address the situation, and by 8:45 a.m., Deputy Chief Robert Hartung confirmed that the leak had been contained with no injuries reported, as per Journal Sentinel. Afterwards, control was handed over to the VA's Maintenance department for further assessment and rectification of the incident.
While Hartung could not confirm the substance that leaked from the tank at the time, hospital officials were working to gather more information about the leak; the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center, situated at 5000 W. National Ave., is known for providing various medical care services ranging from emergency and primary care to pharmacy and mental health care, "he told the Journal Sentinel.
