Waukesha HAZMAT Responds To Dusty Donations At Goodwill

WAUKESHA, WI — Waukesha fire crews responded when employees reported respiratory discomfort after opening dusty donation bins at a Pewaukee Goodwill on Saturday, officials said.

A hazardous materials crew assessed store employees after 11 said their airways were bothered after inhaling an "unknown substance" that filled the air while they were sorting bins, the Waukesha Fire Department said in a statement. Of the employees who reported symptoms, none asked for medical treatment.

The HAZMAT crew monitored the air but didn't find any airborne hazards after responding around 11 a.m., officials said. Crews found the donation bins had an excessive amount of dust but no other dangers.

The dusty bins were removed from the building and the store was reopened, officials said.