A hazardous materials scare at a Downtown Los Angeles Federal Detention Center triggered a swift response from the Los Angeles Fire Department yesterday. LAFD's HazMat team was dispatched following an alert from an automated detection system in the facility's mailroom. Upon arrival, they initiated an investigation to assess the potential threat.
Two employees at the center were evaluated after the incident, which took place at 535 N Alameda St. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department's alert, they were both found to be asymptomatic and were released at the scene without requiring hospitalization. The details of what substances might have been detected have not been disclosed.
The incident, logged as INC#1105, occurred in the early afternoon, with LAFD units arriving at 02:32 PM. The department's update indicated that "Resources are making themselves available once equipment is picked up." This suggests a timely conclusion to the hazardous materials scare, with the emergency crews preparing to leave the scene once their gear and apparatus were organized and accounted for.
Further information detailing the nature of the alarm or the substances involved, if any, has not been provided to the public. The area surrounding the Federal Detention Center at the time of the incident was cordoned off but has since been reopened. The LAFD's readiness to depart also signals a return to normal operations within the District 14's federal facility. Fire Station 4, Battalion 1, and other listed units such as Battalion Chief 1 (BC1), Engine 21, and HazMat 21, among others, were noted to have been involved in the response.
