A fire at a chemical firm in Dalton on Monday sent dozens of people to a local hospital as authorities advised nearby residents to remain in their homes.
A total of 47 people were taken to Hamilton Medical Center to be decontaminated and examined, and all had been treated and released by Monday afternoon, according to Bruce Frazier, spokesman for the Dalton Police Department. There were no reports of serious injuries.
Frazier reported shortly after 4 p.m. that the last fire crew had left the scene, at the MFG Chemical Co. on Callahan Road.
The blaze started around 8:50 a.m., according to Dalton fire officials.
"The accident occurred while MFG was manufacturing a product they call Coagulant 129. It is used in water treatment. It can cause skin or respiratory irritation; my understanding is that none of the people being decontaminated had symptoms," Frazier said.
No evacuations were ordered, though for a time residents within a half-mile of the plant were advised to stay in their homes. That advisory was lifted about 11:30 a.m.
Callahan Road and Hamilton Street Extension were closed during the incident.
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