Faulty AC leads to hazardous materials response in Redwood City
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Officials identified the chemical that prompted a hazardous materials response in Redwood City on Monday.
Redwood Ctiy Fire Department confirmed that freon was released due to a faulty air conditioning unit within a clean room at a Redwood Shores facility. The hazmat team responded to the building at around 12:30 p.m.
Fire officials initially said people at the facility were exposed to a chemical that was unintentionally released. On social media, the fire department made sure to say that the chemical released was not related to biohazard materials.
Five people were "affected" and another 16 were exposed, but have not exhibited any symptoms, according to authorities. The people who were sickened were treated at the scene.
The incident occurred in a building on Island Drive.
The building was evacuated, but there were no additional evacuations or shelter-in-place orders.
"Due to the nature of the incident, it will take some time for us to finish our inspection," Deputy City Manager Jennifer Yamaguma said by email.
A KTVU camera crew arrived to the scene and spoke with fire officials.
"This is a little unusual, it's not unseen. There's mechanical failures at commercial buildings pretty frequently that will put an odor into a building," said Redwood City Fire Department Deputy Chief Dave Pucci. "Most of the time it doesn't cause a symptom and that's really what necessitated the hazmat response."
The city said firefighters had to inspect the building before people are allowed back in.