Hazmat situation prompts evacuations

TAMPA, Fla. – Several homes on South Covina Circle in Tampa were evacuated Monday morning due to what firefighters are calling a hazardous materials’ situation.

What we know:

Tampa Fire Rescue crews responded to a home on South Covina Circle that was initially reported as a structure fire due to a large amount of smoke in the area. However, firefighters deemed it a hazardous materials’ situation.

Officials said someone inside the home mixed multiple caustic chemicals, which caused a chemical reaction that led to a small explosion. There was damage to the roof after this, and fumes were coming from the home, according to firefighters. 

Tampa Fire Rescue’s Hazardous Materials Team and the Tampa Police Department’s Bomb Squad responded to the scene.

Out of an abundance of caution, nearby homes were temporarily evacuated while crews worked to secure the area. Residents were able to safely return to their homes at about 1 p.m., according to crews. 

Dig deeper:

No injuries were reported, but fire officials said two people requested a medical evaluation as a precaution, but declined transport. 

Agencies who responded to the scene included the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the FBI and the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations. 

Local perspective:

Neighbors were waking up Monday morning, when they heard the explosion.

“Drinking my coffee, and all of a sudden, this big boom,” Eileen Mann said. “It kind of felt like the boom.”

Residents walked outside and saw huge clouds of smoke covering the home where the explosion happened.

“You could see nothing but smoke,” Tom Sisson said. “You couldn’t even see the roof, there was so much smoke, and it was coming from underneath the awnings of the house.”

Mann said she went to check on her other neighbors and was met with a concerning smell.

“It was really a big poof of smoke,” she said. “Not a little one. It was everywhere. And I could tell it was chemicals. I told my neighbor, I said, ‘This is chemicals, and we need to get away from here.’”

Hazmat teams could be seen going through decontamination outside the home.

“I’m glad that everybody’s out alright,” Sisson said. “That’s the main thing.”

The Source: This story was written with information provided by Tampa Fire Rescue. 

Tampa