On May 5th, 2023 at 8:30 pm the Meriden Fire Department (MFD) responded to a fire at a metal plating facility, CRC Chrome, in Meriden, CT. CRC Chrome specializes in chrome plating services for aircraft parts, machine parts, molds, tools, dies, fasteners, gauges, bearing diameters, shafts, spindles, rolls, etc. The fire caused structural damage to the facility as well as to another building that is partially attached. The plating facility occupies three Quonset huts (metal fabrication) and three other one-story cinder block sections.
Upon receiving the NRC report on May 6, 2023, EPA mobilized two OSCs to the incident. The OSCs integrated into the Unified Command with MFD, Connecticut Department of Environmental and Energy Protection (CTDEEP), and the facility management. The fire had been extinguished, but damage to the building prevented entry. Observations through the doors, openings and windows into the facility revealed the remains of the metal plating bath process line and several drum/containers/vats that were damaged by the fire and the fire fighting activities. EPA mobilized both, Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) and Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) contractors.
Based on information provided by the MFD, the origin/location of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation. At this time there have been no observations of fish kill or wildlife being effected by the firefighting runoff water.
