Insect bomb explodes; 12 responding Jersey City firefighters sickened by the fumes

Published: Monday, October 17, 2011, 3:03 AM
By Ken Thorbourne/The Jersey Journal

Twelve Jersey City firefighters were rushed to the hospital yesterday morning suffering from respiratory distress after responding to an explosion caused by an insect fogger, officials said.

The firefighters were all taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for observation after inhaling the concentrated bug spray, Fire Director Armando Roman said.

The incident has spurred Roman to consider a public safety compaign to highlight the hazards of the insect-killing devices.

The firefighters were responding to a report of an explosion inside a first floor apartment at 129 Magnolia Ave. at 10:19 a.m.

No one was home and firefighters forced entry. They were immediately sickened by the fumes, he said.

The vapors from insect bombs are heavier than air and highly flammable. Roman said people forget to shut off the pilot lights on their stoves when they use them, Roman said.

?The instructions on the back of those cans are microscopic so people don?t read them,? Roman said. ?I am going to start a public education campaign on this issue .... These manufacturers need to put bigger warnings.?

All 12 firefighters were released from the hospital yesterday and there were no other injuries at the five-story brick building, Roman said.