Freeport fire department responded to a building fire at The...

Freeport fire department responded to a building fire at The George Basc Co. located at 19 Hanse Ave in Freeport. Credit: Photo by Bill Bennett

Chemical runoff from a Thursday fire at a Freeport factory that manufactures a metal-polishing agent was contained to the company's property and roadway and did not get into storm drains or a nearby canal, Nassau County fire authorities said.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office and fire investigators were concerned that runoff from a morning fire at the George Basch Co., 19 Hanse Ave., could have entered the drains and a nearby canal, said Vincent McManus, district supervisor for the fire marshal.

"Our hazmat guys were here doing some monitoring, because it is near a canal," McManus said, "but the runoff is local to the property and roadway."

There were no injuries and the fire appears accidental, McManus said. The company will hire a licensed cleanup contractor to address the issues on the property and roadway, he said.

The fire broke out at about 7:50 a.m., apparently because of a spark from a machine in the area of the plant restricted to manufacturing, McManus said. The area where chemicals and supplies are stored did not catch fire, he said.

The company makes Nevr-Dull, a metal polishing agent.

The Freeport Fire Department needed about an hour to extinguish the fire, McManus said. Other departments responding included Baldwin, Oceanside, North Merrick and Point Lookout.

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

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