The fire suppression system discharged Wednesday afternoon at the Stop & Shop gas station at 176 Newington Rd., in West Hartford, coating the ground, six vehicles, and numerous customers with a salty white powder.
West Hartford Assistant Fire Chief Mike Sinsigalli said the incident, which occurred at 2:19 p.m. Wednesday, was accidental and not triggered by a fire.
"There are only two ways the fire suppression system can be set off - heat detection or by pulling the activating device," Sinsigalli said. That device is in the kiosk and was not touched.
While Sinsigalli could not say for sure that the day's scorching temperature, which read 102 degrees on the car thermometer, was a factor, he did not rule it out. He is recommending that the heat detection device be replaced, and that process began immediately on the roof of the gas station structure.
Approximately six vehicles were at the station when the incident occurred and one woman was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, Sinsigalli said. While the material is a base not an acid, he said it is still treated as hazardous. "I wouldn't eat it but a little bit of exposure won't really hurt you," said Sinsigalli.
The affected vehicles were washed and those with material inside were also detailed by Stop & Shop staff.
The station will remain closed until the material is swept up, the area washed down, and the detectors replaced. That will either be late Wednessay night or on Thursday morning, Sinsigalli said.
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