A combination of chemical fumes from battery acid and cleaning products was behind a hazardous material (HAZMAT) incident and evacuation requiring a multiple engine response at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 30.
JBM-HH fire officials received a call at about 9:40 a.m. from personnel working at Bldg. 246 (402 Sheridan Ave.) about an "odor causing distress to personnel" who worked in the basement of the building, said Jon Culberson, assistant chief of JBM-HH Fire and Emergency Services.
First responders detected chemical fumes in the basement of the building using a multi-gas detection meter. Immediately, they pulled the fire alarm to initiate a mandatory evacuation. The building houses an office space and barracks.
"A HAZMAT response was initiated with our mutual aid partners -- Arlington County Fire Department and the City of Alexandria. Our first priority was life safety -- we didn't know how the incident was going to go," Culberson said. "Teams had to clear personnel from the basement, first, second and third floors."
JBM-HH fire also requested police support for traffic and crowd control. Police set up a cordon blocking all pedestrian and vehicle traffic from Gorgas Road to Jackson Avenue. The joint base's pedestrian gate, Henry Gate, was also closed.
"The overall effort from all personnel who responded was phenomenal," said Capt. Jason Hazzard, JBM-HH police department. "We had a real world emergency and all emergency personnel responded the way they were supposed to. A cordon was set up large enough for the fire departments to be able to do their mission and taking into account personnel being evacuated and redirected."
An EMS and medic station was set-up in Conmy Hall, where medics checked a dozen personnel who felt ill because of the fumes. Conmy Hall also served as a holdover station for evacuees.
"We evacuated the building and I had to get accountability of all of my Soldiers to make sure nobody was inside," said Army Staff Sgt. Perry Transue, a Company D, 1-3 Infantry platoon sergeant. "I formed my platoon up by squads, conducted roll call quickly and accurately and reported that up to my chain of command. We practice fire and emergency drills often. There's Soldiers who live in the upstairs barracks so practicing drills proves vital in these kinds of situations."
"This is a prime example of why it's important to have a good emergency plan," said Army Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Anderson-Kaapa, another evacuee. "No one panicked, which ensured there wasn't anyone trampled on their way out of the doors."
Upon further investigation, public safety officials determined combination of off-gassing vapors from leaking batteries in a storage cabinet and cleaning products were behind the fumes, Culberson said.
The site was ventilated, sealed and then re-checked by fire officials. Personnel received the all-clear to re-enter the building at approximately 2:10 p.m.
With National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9 -- 15) fast approaching, Culberson urged everyone on the installation to adhere to fire alarm evacuation procedures.
Some personnel inside Bldg. 246 had to be told to leave the building by fire officials, well after the alarm sounded, he said.
"Fire alarms go off for a reason -- don't think it's just a drill or a nuisance. When the fire alarms go off, please leave the building," Culberson said.
Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.
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