Created: 6/17/2009 1:44:06 PM 
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- Investigators say lightning possibly hit a hangar at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in St. Augustine.
According to the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department, something triggered the firefighting foam retardant system in the hangar to discharge around 1 a.m., just about the same time a strong thunderstorm rolled through the area.
Authorities say employees were working on an airplane inside the hangar when the system discharged about 3,000 gallons of the chemical and foam.
Most of the employees left the hangar.
However, three men who were on the plane were asked to stay on the aircraft until the electricity could be turned off.
Florida Power and Light shut off the power and the three men were allowed to exit the plane and the hangar.
Some employees were checked out by paramedics. No one was transported to the hospital.
The foam was on the floor of the hangar. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, some of the chemical also went outside of the building, but not off of the property.
A DEP spokesperson said a privately hired company is cleaning up the substance Wednesday.
She said the foam is not hazardous.
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