On Thursday, Sept. 14 at 4:10 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received from a chemical company at 319 N. Bernardo Ave. The reporting party opened a container full of an unknown substance, and it popped and started smoking. The chemicals were contained in a fume hold device in a laboratory. However, they needed the City of Mountain View Fire Department’s help identifying the chemicals and determining if they were hazardous. The tenants of the building self-evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Fire units were dispatched at 4:10 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 4:16 p.m. City of Mountain View Fire Hazardous Materials team members conducted tests and confirmed that the chemicals were contained in the laboratory’s fume hold. The team concluded the chemicals did not escape the lab, and the rest of the building was safe for occupancy.

There were no reports of injuries, and the building tenants were allowed to return to their offices. The building was turned over to facilities management for further evaluation.

Media Contact
Robert Maitland, Fire Department PIO
650-903-6825 or robert.maitland@mountainview.gov