A quiet Antioch neighborhood turned into a hazmat scene this morning after suspicious items were found in a garage near Lipton Street and Trembath Lane, police said. A bomb squad and hazardous-materials team rolled in, crews taped off the area, and investigators spent the late morning trying to figure out exactly what they were dealing with. Officials emphasized there was no immediate danger to the public while the operation was underway.
Fire District Brings In Bomb Squad And Hazmat Team
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District called in the Walnut Creek bomb squad and its Hazardous Materials team at about 9:02 AM, according to Patch. The situation was classified as a level 1 hazmat incident, and at that time, there were no evacuations, according to the report. Technicians concentrated on identifying and securing the items inside the garage, while standard safety protocols remained in place.
Police Tell Neighbors To Steer Clear
Antioch police took to social media to urge people to steer clear of the Lipton Street and Trembath Lane area while the response was active, according to The Mercury News. The department described the move as being made out of an abundance of caution and stated that it did not believe there was any threat to the wider public, the outlet reported. Crews kept working through the morning to secure the scene and collect evidence for investigators.
What A Level 1 Hazmat Means And Recent Local Scares
A level 1 hazmat label typically signals a minor hazardous-materials situation that local crews can handle and keep contained, Patch noted. Antioch has seen its share of explosive-device investigations in recent years, including cases that led to bomb-squad responses and shelter-in-place orders, according to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle. As of late morning, officials had not said what the items in the garage were or whether any charges might be filed as the investigation continued.
