The discovery of the chemicals is the second such incident in the city in a week, Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Moran said.
04.28.2011 | HOLYOKE - Emergency workers respond to Northampton St. following the discovery of two milk jugs believed to contain by-products from methamphetamine production.UPDATE, 1:09 p.m.: Officials reopened Northampton St. shortly after noon.
HOLYOKE - Officials have closed Northampton St. (Route 5) from Whiting Farms Road to Laurel Street following the discovery of two milk jugs believed to contain chemicals used in the production of methamphetamines.
The jugs, each about half-filled with a clear liquid, were discovered on the side of the road between West Glen and Clark streets Thursday morning.
Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Moran said officials believe the chemicals may be by-products from a "meth lab." The discovery of the chemicals is the second such incident in the city in a week, Moran said.
Holyoke Fire Dept. spokesman Lt. Thomas G. Paquin said the department, in conjunction with the Western Massachusetts Hazardous Materials Team, responded to a similar incident in the same area Sunday. Subsequent tests showed the substances were consistent with those used in methamphetamine production, prompting a more significant level of response today.
Paquin said the incidents have been an ongoing issue in the neighborhood. The presence of the chemicals has been a cause for concern among fire officials, Paquin said, because of their potential for combustion if collected by sanitation workers.
Alejandro Sanchez, who lives across the street from the scene, said he has seen similar containers placed in the roadway several times over the past few months.
"It's almost every week that they do that. They always put out two gallons," Sanchez said.
Members of the State Hazardous Materials Response Team arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. this morning.
The discovery of an alleged meth lab at a Bridge Street home in Northampton in October 2010 led to the indictment of three men and a woman on charges that included manufacturing a Class B substance and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act.
According to a page on the state of Oregon's official website, the production of methamphetamines involves a number of common household items -- including drain cleaners, bleach, iodine, muriatic acid, toluene and over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. The process generates a large amount of chemical waste.
This is a developing story. Details will be added as they become available.