An apartment building in Fall River is uninhabitable and two people have been hospitalized due to a hazmat situation involving mercury, according to fire officials.
Fall River District Fire Chief Michael Clarke said a 51-year-old man who lives at 108 Hamlet St. accidentally contaminated the building with mercury when he was melting down what he thought were old silver fillings to try and make some money.
"His grandfather used to be a dentist and he had some old fillings, and he though he could melt them down," Clarke said. "He thought they were silver, but it turned out to be mercury."
Clarke said the resident initially melted down the fillings on Jan. 25 and went to the hospital three days later. During that time, doctors could not figure out what was wrong with him.