Firefighters in Phoenix were called to a hazmat situation early Saturday after chlorine tablets began off-gassing hazardous fumes near 19th Avenue and Greenway Road, as reported by ABC15. The Phoenix Fire Department dispatched its Hazmat Team, which entered the scene to monitor air quality inside the building and assess the surrounding neighborhood, confirming that all readings were normal, with no reported injuries.
The incident, which occurred around midnight, resulted in the evacuation of a nearby building, and the hazardous materials response was automatically upgraded to a first alarm. The emergency crews reacted swiftly and implemented precautionary measures, despite the fact that they didn't know initially what to expect, eventually dealing with the release of chlorine gas from the tablets, according to Newsflare.
Upon arrival, fire crews initially mistook the chlorine gas for smoke coming from a fire, but soon discovered the true nature of the hazard behind a strip mall storage lot. Collaborative efforts included teams from both Phoenix and the Glendale Fire Departments, effectively managing the scene and ensuring the safety of the nearby areas.
Thanks to the quick action of the fire department the incident happened while the neighboring businesses were closed and without occupants there were no injuries or casualties as a result of the chemical release, Hazmat crews stationed downwind continued to track air quality along with the direction and speed of the wind while managing the scene until it was deemed safe and could be handed over to a clean-up team.
