A Seattle Fire Department hazardous materials team rushed to the 90 block of Union Street on Tuesday evening to investigate an unknown substance discovered inside an apartment unit. The department said the response was active and that it would share more details as they became available.
The Seattle Fire Department, posting from its official account, said a hazardous materials team was responding to the block to investigate the substance found in the apartment. In a post on Seattle Fire Dept.
’s account, the agency wrote, “Hazardous materials team is responding to the 90 block of Union St. to investigate an unknown substance in an apartment unit.” The department added only that it would provide “more information when available,” leaving key details of the incident, including what the substance is and whether anyone was affected, unresolved for now.
What Remains Unknown
As of the fire department's initial post, there was no word on the substance's identity, the extent of any exposure, or whether residents had been evacuated from the building. The department has not released the apartment's exact address or unit number, nor said whether nearby streets or the building itself were closed off during the investigation. Hoodline will update this story as the fire department releases more information.
How Past Seattle Hazmat Calls Have Played Out
Seattle's hazmat teams have responded to several unknown-substance calls over the past few years, with outcomes that have varied widely. In April, the department responded to an unknown substance found in a third-floor classroom inside the University of Washington's Denny Hall, according to the Daily UW. In that case, the room was clear and people elsewhere on the floor were asked to stay where they were while the hazardous materials response unit worked to confirm whether the substance was dangerous; the student paper reported no injuries at the time.
A more serious incident unfolded in May 2023, when firefighters investigated an unknown substance found on the third floor of an apartment building in south Seattle, as reported by KATV. Ten people were treated at the scene, and eight were transported to a hospital, according to that report. Hazmat crews in that case identified the substance as an airborne respiratory irritant, though they did not specify exactly what it was, and firefighters ventilated the building until monitoring equipment showed it was safe for residents to return at about 4 p.m.
Investigation Ongoing
It is not yet known whether Tuesday evening's Union Street response will mirror either of those earlier incidents in scope or outcome. The Seattle Fire Department has not indicated the substance's nature or whether it poses a health risk to residents, and no update beyond the initial post had been issued as of this writing. Anyone with an emergency should call 911.
