Crime & Safety
Chemical Release Forces Evacuation of 3 RSM Buildings
The corrosive mixed with moisture in the air to create a potentially dangerous situation. Nearby employees were evacuated. They were allowed back in by mid-day.
Originally posted at 10:25 a.m. Feb. 27, 2014. Edited at 10:35 a.m., 11:52 a.m. and 1:26 p.m. to add more photos.
UPDATE at 1:30 p.m.: Evacuated employees were allowed to return to work.
UPDATE at 11:52 a.m.: The Hazmat team is now entering the building. See photos.
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A chemical spill in a Rancho Santa Margarita industrial area this morning has caused the evacuation of several buildings, the Orange County Fire Authority reported.
The incident happened at 9:13 a.m. in the 22900 block of Arroyo Vista, said Capt. Dave Spencer.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A business owner was processing a chemical which mixed with the moisture in the air to cause a release of a potentially hazardous gas, Spencer said.
He didn’t know the exact chemical, but it was a corrosive that is not supposed to mix with water or moisture.
Hazmat crews are on scene.
“We have stopped the processing. We’ve evacuated the building itself and the surrounding buildings,” Spencer said.
There were no reported injuries.
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