No, That’s Not Lava, It’s Burning Hand Sanitizer After Warehouse Goes Up In Flames

A warehouse storing expired hand sanitizer went up in flames, resulting in rivers of burning liquid running through local waterways.

The warehouse, located in Gorham in Ontario County, was being used to store out-of-date hand sanitiser. As some of us may have found out during COVID, it’s particularly flammable due to the high alcohol content.

Warehouse Disaster: The 50,000-square-foot Eco Operations warehouse caught on fire. Due to the volatile materials stored within, the blaze quickly spread. A shelter-in-place order was made in the area as firefighters battled the blaze.

• However, as they poured water on the fire, the damaged barrels of hand sanitizer started to leak. Mixing with the water from the fire suppression efforts, the burning hand sanitizer began to channel out into the local area.

Footage from the scene shows rivers of what looks like lava running down roadside water drainage channels. The hand sanitizer, being lighter than water, sits on top, still flaming.

Rivers of Fire

Footage of the rivers of burning hand sanitizer was shared by a local firefighting team. As it runs from the burning warehouse, the pooling water blazes with that typical blue and red flame.

• “It would have been on fire before it got to the ditch,” Gorham Town Supervisor Dale Stell told Syracuse. “Hand sanitizer has a certain percentage of alcohol, and it floats on top of water.”

The blaze took days to extinguish due to its volatile nature. Over 40 fire departments responded to the warehouse fire. They used both water and foam to try to quench the flames. The resulting outpouring of water and foam resulted in the lava-like runoffs.

Biological Fallout: The damage from the river goes beyond just the rivers of burning hand sanitizer. The various other chemicals that have been poured into the local area have had a drastic effect on wildlife.

• Local residents are being advised to stay out of waterways close to the warehouse fire. Many dead fish have been observed in Flint Creek. All contact with the area, including fishing, swimming, and boating, has been heavily advised against

Local wildlife authorities are monitoring the extent of the damage to the local area.