Exposed kids expected to be OK

BOISE -- A specialized HAZMAT team from Seattle is on scene where Boise Fire crews found the very toxic and some times deadly mercury.

Children were found playing with the liquid metal Thursday afternoon.

The big question today is -- how did the children come in contact with the dangerous liquid metal?

They were found playing with it on a table, but despite coming in contact with it, fire officials believe the children will be OK.

Emergency crews were called Thursday evening to a home on White Cloud Drive in Boise.  Dressed in HAZMAT gear, the teams were there to check out a mercury spill.

"The kids were playing with it, and some of it got onto their clothing, so they need to test that and make sure it's not contaminated, and make sure they don't have any symptoms from the exposure," said Jim Gross, Boise Fire Battalion Chief.

One child was taken to the hospital for a check-up, but Gross said he believe the child would be OK.

While the family moved out crews worked through the night cleaning up the toxic liquid metal and fire fighters stayed on scene well into the morning - guarding the potentially contaminated site from neighbors.

Melissa Harders lives just down the road and knows from experience that mercury is dangerous.

"When I was a kid I used to play with mercury," said Harders.

Her four-year-old grandson Joel is living with her for the summer and she is glad he is safe.

"I don't let him out by himself and he doesn't play down there, and the kids that were all use to live there were gone because of the fire," said Harders.

The house fire Harders refers to happened next door to where the children were playing in the toxic material.  The fire happened on July 13th, and HAZMAT crews believe the mercury could have come from the burned home.

Patricia Donaldson is a mother of three who lives in the apartment upstairs from where the mercury was found.  Her children knew the boys who came in contact with the mercury and since the spill they've been scared.

"My little one started crying because they are his friends and they feel really sad about it," said Donaldson.

Most health problems come from when mercury vapors are inhaled, or breathed in through the lungs and it occurs in small, tight quarters.

Fortunately this incident was outside.  Fire crews believe one of the children took some inside.  Local HAZMAT crews worked to clean that out Thursday.  The Seattle team will give it one final inspection.