Firefighters called to chemical spill

A number of people were treated for minor chemical burns after a chemical spill in Mount Maunganui last night.

Tauranga fire service senior station officer Len Sabin said Mount Maunganui, Greerton and Tauranga firefighters were called to the spill at Mainfreight on Te Marie St about 8.50pm yesterday.

"What happened was they've inadvertently punctured an IBC [1000L plastic drum] full of chemicals."

Mr Sabin said the staff managed to largely contain the spill inside another container until the fire service arrived.

"The fire service were called to stabilise the scene and decontaminate a number of people...We called an ambulance to deal with what appeared to be some minor chemical burns."

Two men were taken to Tauranga Hospital, treated and discharged.

The fire service properly contained the chemical and left it in place to be removed by specialists this morning, he said.

Firefighters were at the building for more than three hours.