Hazmat team searches car parked at St. Joe's for possible hazardous chemicals

A search of a car that emergency officials believed could be carrying hazardous chemicals temporarily shut down roads around St. Joseph'sHospital Thursday night.

The materials were analyzed and found to be ahouseholdcleaner and a second common chemical, which can, in some cases, produce chlorine gas when mixed.

In low doses, the gas can irritate the eyes, nose and mouth. Higher levels can cause breathing difficulties and vomiting and very high levels can be deadly.

The incident prompted a heavy response from the Hamilton Firedepartment, including its hazardous materials unit.

Hamilton Fire Department spokesperson Claudio Mostacci said the chemicals appear to have been combined prior to the hazardous materials response team arriving at thesmall underground parking lotnear the hospital's emergency department on CharltonStreet around 8:40 p.m.

No evidence of chlorine gas was discovered.

"Our team was able to go inside the car and retrieve a sample," said Mostacci, who added residue in the container and the air in the vehicle were tested. "Everything came out negative. There was no danger."

It's not clear what led police to the vehicle in the first place.

Const. Jerome Stewart said the search of the car is part of an ongoing investigation, so only limited information can be released.

"Detectives are currently investigating the incident," he said. "At this point in time criminal charges have not been laid."

Ambulances rerouted during search

The hospital was in a hold and secure while the search was underway, according to Mostacci.

The emergency room stayed open for walk-ins but ambulances were rerouted to other hospitals for about an hour while the incident was dealt with, explained AgnesBongers, director of public affairs for the hospital.

"When we get information there may be something serious like this we have to take all precautions," said Mostacci.

Bongerssaid the scenewas cleared by 10 p.m.

"Everyone was fine, everything was safe. It was a precautionary measure."

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