TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded Thursday to a hazmat call at Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Center at 12220 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Officials said 80 people were evacuated from the building. Fire rescue crews transported three people from the scene and evaluated 10 other people. There were no injuries to first responders.
Initial calls were for an electrical smell coming from the MRI area of the facility.
Crews determined that a bank of lithium-ion batteries was off-gassing and called for hazmat technicians. Crews then made entries to determine the structure's level and types of gas.
Hazmat crews will be attempting to remove the 30 Lithium-ion batteries with a pallet jack from the MRI room inside Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care in Tampa. According to Rob Herrin Public Safety Information Chief for @HillsFireRescue @BN9 pic.twitter.com/XQOui9PZqK
— Julia Hazel (@Julia_HazelTV) July 20, 2023
It was determined 30 lithium-ion batteries, approximately 100 pounds each, had swollen and two ruptured, releasing gas.
Crews remained at the scene to mitigate the situation, which posed a threat of explosion, up to and including fire and a further release of toxic compounds.
At least 24 hazmat technicians and 18 units responded to the scene, officials said.
@HillsFireRescue Information Chief Rob Herron:
— Julia Hazel (@Julia_HazelTV) July 20, 2023
“We had high levels of hydrogen gas, it can be explosive once we determined that we now moved this from a threat of hazardous gas that could be inhalation inherited to a potential explosive we moved people further away from the scene pic.twitter.com/HX3Fwu85r8
Pasco County Fire Rescue also responded, adding additional hazmat technicians to the scene. Officials also requested Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's bomb squad as an additional resource.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue removed the entire rack of lithium-ion batteries from the building. Crews will separate each 100-pound battery and place them in a neutralizing agent in a secured drum, which a third party will remove. Officials said the hazard has been removed from the building will use fans to ventilate the structure to safe levels.
The center will remain closed Friady as the fire department continues their investigation and said updates will be posted on its website.