Update from the Brazos County Health Department:
The Brazos County Health Department (BCHD) found a hazardous chemical at the B/CS Asian Market in College Station during a routine inspection. This inspection was completed in conjunction with a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) inspector.
The chemical is sold under the trade name of Fumitoxin and the active ingredient, aluminum phosphide, is very reactive when exposed to air and especially water.
The evacuated fire department personnel, along with officers from the College Station Police Department, blocked off Rio Grande from Harvey Mitchel Parkway to Hawktree as a precaution.
Fire department personnel placed the chemical in a container, covered it with an absorbent material, and then sealed the container, making it safe for transport. DSHS then took custody of the container and removed it for safe disposal.
The B/CS Asian Market scored below a 70 on its inspection. The business was closed and there will be a re-inspection Wednesday to determine if it will reopen.
Update from the College Station Fire Department:
A commercial pesticide confiscated from a local specialty grocery store by a Department of State Health Services (DSHS) inspector and brought to Fire Station 2, 2300 Rio Grande, caused the evacuation of fire department personnel for approximately one hour this afternoon.
The material is sold under the trade name of Fumitoxin and the active ingredient, aluminum phosphide, is very reactive when exposed to air and especially water.
The evacuated fire department personnel, along with officers from the College Station Police Department, blocked off Rio Grande from Harvey Mitchel Parkway to Hawktree as a precaution.
Fire department personnel placed the chemical in a container, covered it with an absorbent material, and then sealed the container, making it safe for transport. DSHS then took custody of the container and removed it for safe disposal.
All streets were reopened at 1400 hours. There were no injuries.
The College Station Fire Department recommends that if you find any substance that you believe may be harmful or dangerous; you evacuate the area and call 911. Qualified personnel will respond to your location and determine the safest way to render the substance harmless.
Original story:
College Station Fire Department (CSFD) station #2 was evacuated and streets were blocked Tuesday afternoon following the discovery of a hazardous material.
Rio Grande was blocked from Harvey Mitchell to and Hawk Tree.
CSFD spokesman Bart Humphreys says a health department inspector removed a suspicious item from a restaurant and took it to station #2.
Upon inspection it was determined the solid material in the shape of a hockey puck turned out to be aluminum phosphide.
Humphreys says the material is highly reactive to air and water.
Click HERE to read more about aluminum phosphide, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency.
That resulted in an evacuation of the station and calling in the fire department’s hazardous materials team based at station #6 on University.
Comments from Bart Humphreys.