2 firefighters injured in hazmat incident at Tappan Zee H.S.

ORANGEBURG – Two volunteer firefighters were sickened Tuesday night after encountering a toxic, chemical gas mixture that forced the evacuation of Tappan Zee High School.

The firefighters, whose identities were not released, were taken to Nyack Hospital with minor injuries, said Orangeburg 2nd Assistant Fire Chief Peter Byrne.

About 25 Orangeburg firefighters responded to the school at 15 Dutch Hill Road about 8 p.m. and shortly after, called upon an additional 20 volunteers with the Rockland County hazardous materials team, Byrne said.

"A smoke detector activated and what we found out was that a cleaning contractor was using some sort of an acid-based cleaning solution, which reacted with something in the bathroom and created a fog ...," Byrne said.

The bathroom was a ladies' room about 70 feet from the building's main entrance, Byrne said.

Few, if any, students were believed to have been inside the school at the time. Byrne said several people may have been on the school's lower level — away from the scene — but evacuated without incident. Several janitorial workers were among those nearest to the bathroom, but all were said to have left the school on their own and refused medical treatment.

Though the acidic cleaning solution that contributed to the toxic gas was known, it was not yet clear Tuesday what substances within the bathroom were present in amounts significant enough to cause the chemical reaction.

"It is a strong acid and we're in the process right now of neutralizing the acid," Byrne said. "Whatever it did, it reacted wrong, which set off the smoke detector, thankfully. The school did the right thing and evacuated."

Orangeburg Fire Chief Neil Lynady said firefighters were expected to clear the scene well before the start of classes Wednesday. About 10:40 p.m., the district issued an email statement declaring the building had been cleared for use.

Orangetown police and members of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps also responded to the scene.

Twitter: @JORourkeT800