FINNEY COUNTY—The Kansas Department of Health and State Fire Marshal are investigating a HazMat issue in southwest Kansas.
Just after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a report of hazardous material issue at 1250 Raceway Road in Garden City Township, Finney County, Kansas, according to the Garden City Fire Department.
When they arrived, Garden City Fire Department personnel met with the responsible party, who advised that a City of Garden City Solid Waste Truck had registered a radiation reading. Fire personnel took steps to isolate the vehicle and requested assistance from the regional Hazardous Materials (HazMat) team through the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Upon arrival, regional HazMat team members confirmed the detection of radiation. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was subsequently contacted and notified of the situation.
Based on information received from the regional HazMat Team, KDHE advised fire department personnel that the KDHE Radiation Response Team will respond to Garden City early tomorrow morning, Wednesday, October 21, to further assess the situation, isolate the source, and coordinate the removal of the hazardous material as appropriate.
As a precaution, the vehicle was isolated while personnel coordinated with the appropriate state and regional resources.
There are no reported injuries and no threat to the public. The source of the radiation and any associated hazards will be evaluated by the appropriate specialized personnel.
The Garden City Fire Department continues to coordinate with state and regional partners until the situation has been appropriately addressed. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available and can be confirmed.