By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporters
Published: 20:31 EDT, 8 November 2019 | Updated: 20:31 EDT, 8 November 2019
Massachusetts authorities have identified the man who died following a hazardous, chemical incident at a Buffalo Wild Wing as being the restaurant's manager.
The Burlington Fire Department said that Ryan Baldera, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, died Thursday after inhaling toxic fumes produced by cleaning supplies in the kitchen at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Burlington, Massachusetts.
Baldera was said to be the restaurant's general manager. He had gotten married in 2018 and was the father of a newborn baby, WCVB reported.
Massachusetts Buffalo Wild Wings general manager Ryan Baldera, 32, died after inhaling toxic fumes caused by the chemical reaction of two cleaning products Thursday night
Authorities said in a statement Friday that a preliminary investigation indicated that an unnamed employee had applied Super 8 and Scale Kleen to the kitchen floor while cleaning. The two substances then reacted to each other, producing toxic fumes.
Baldera (pictured) was said to have been trying to 'squeegee' the hazard material, which was accidentally mixed by another employee, out of the restaurant's kitchen when he was overcome by the fumes
Twelve people - a mix of restaurant employees and patrons - checked themselves into Lahey Hospital and a 13th person self-checked into a Lowell-area hospital last night after the incident, the fire department said in the statement.
Symptoms were said to have ranged from difficulty breathing to burning feelings in the eyes.
All of the patients have since been released from the hospital.
Baldera was said to have been attempting to 'squeegee the product out of the building and he was overcome,' Interim Fire Chief Michael Patterson said Thursday evening.
The employee who had been initially trying to clean the floor was said to have been exposed to the toxic fumes immediately, but left the area quickly to get fresh air.
When authorities arrived at the restaurant at about 5.30pm, they found Baldera suffering from nausea. He was then transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials responded to reports of a chemical reaction in the kitchen area of the restaurant in Burlington on Thursday. First responders are pictured at the scene here
A Hazmat crew is pictured at the scene following the chemical accident inside the restaurant
Interim Fire Chief Michael Patterson is pictured at the scene of the tragedy
Massachusetts police said that 13 people, a mix of restaurant employees and patrons checked themselves into the hospital after the incident at the Burlington Buffalo Wild Wings (pictured)
An ambulance is pictured at the scene of the chemical incident in Massachusetts
A preliminary investigation is said to have shown that the toxic fumes were caused when floor cleaning products Super 8 (left) and Scale Kleen (right) were mixed together (file images)
After evacuating the building, firefighters called for a Tier 1 - low level - hazardous material response, according to Mass Live.
The cause of the incident is still being investigated by the Burlington Fire and Police Departments, with assistance from OSHA.
A Buffalo Wild Wings spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We are shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic accident at our franchise-owned sports bar and are working closely with our franchisee and the authorities while they conduct an investigation.
'Because the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to share any additional comment at this time.'
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