Monday, January 5, 2015

GWINNETT CO., GEORGIA 911 CENTER EVACUATED DUE TO HAZMAT SITUATION. EMPLOYEES HAD BREATHING PROBLEMS FROM THE FIRE SUPPRESSING MATERIAL.




GWINNETT CO., GEORGIA 911 CENTER EVACUATED DUE TO HAZMAT SITUATION.  EMPLOYEES HAD BREATHING PROBLEMS FROM THE FIRE SUPPRESSING MATERIAL.










The Gwinnett County 911 Center remains evacuated after a Hazmat situation Monday morning. 



Emergency crews rushed to the building at about 10 a.m. Monday. It's unclear what caused the fire suppression system to activate.



Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach was at the scene while Hazmat and fire crews were investigating. 



Police say a member of the 911 Center notified all officers that they had an emergency in the 911 Center.  Police say the building was immediately evacuated.



911 services resumed at 11 a.m. Five employees were taken to Gwinnett Medical Center for evaluation, according to police. A ceiling tile fell, hitting one person, police on the scene said. All employees are in good condition and being monitored. 



The fire department is still inside the building trying to figure out what set off the fire suppression system. All the electronics inside the building are the main reason Hazmat was called to the scene. 



The 911 service was only briefly interrupted. Operations have been moved to police headquarters and the Mobile Operations Center vehicle in the parking lot of the headquarters. 



Responders are taking calls as normal.  The extent of damage to the 911 center is being evaluated. 




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Update, 12 p.m.



Authorities say the Monday morning mazmat incident at the Gwinnett County 911 Center on Hi Hope Road was a “hazardous material” associated with the facility’s fire suppression system.



Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said the system activated at 9:56 a.m. ”for an unknown reason.” The incident is being investigated.



“The fire suppression system is not a typical water sprinkler system used in most buildings,” Smith said in an email. Five 911 Center employees were taken to local hospitals for evaluation. They had possible respiratory issues caused by the fire supression system, Smith said.



The 911 Center has been evacuated as the damage is being assessed. The center’s operations have been moved to police headquarters.



“Any disruption to delivery of police and fire services was minor and has been resolved,” Smith said.



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Original post



An apparent hazardous material incident forced an evacuation at the Gwinnett County 911 Center on Hi Hope Road Monday morning.



Gwinnett Police said five employees were transported to the hospital for evaluation. Police said in an email sent at 10:53 a.m. that 911 services have been restored after a brief shutdown.



Police said a member of the 911 Center reported an emergency at 9:56 a.m., forcing an immediate evacuation.



Gwinnett Fire referred to the incident as at a “hazmat call” in an email.



Check back for updates.