Multi-agency response to chemical drama at Luton

999 teams put into practise procedures they have rehearsed when a call to the Hockwell Ring area of Luton looked as though it could be a serious chemical incident.

Police responding to a report of a possible burglary at an address in Acworth Crescent found an overwhelming smell of chemicals coming from a sealed door at the two-storey flats.

At 10am police called Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, who are the first line of defence for such incidents, and upon arriving firefighters decided to request an expert chemical incident evaluation by a HazMat (Hazardous Materials) Officer.

The situation at Acworth Crescent, combined with background intelligence from Police, led officers in charge to fear this could be a case of “chemical suicide” - where household cleaning materials are combined to create a deadly cocktail of gasses. This are increasingly common and information is easily accessible on the internet.

As a precaution homes in the same block were evacuated - and an evacuation centre was set up nearby with the help of the St John Ambulance and other agencies. This was the minimum evacuation zone which was chosen to reduce disruption to the neighbourhood.

Chemical decontamination equipment held by BLFRS was sent to the scene (disrobe and shower units) in case they were required - and experts from the national decontamination unit were called.

Police and ambulance crews stood by.

Emergency crews in protective chemical suits went into the building at approximately 2 pm. They found a scenario similar to the “chemical suicide” but no person or body.

After making the scene safe all 999 crews left the scene at approximately 5 pm. Police were continuing to seek the occupant of the house.

Group Commander Chris Adams who is the HazMat officer said: “This had all the hallmarks of a chemical suicide. If this had been the case deadly poisons could have been in the air and would have killed anyone going in unprotected. Our first priority is to minimise the risk to the public nearby and to the First Responders so we have to take all precautions. The teamwork achieved as a result of previous rehearsals with various multi-agency partners such as Police and Ambulance worked well. And the support agencies who put together the evacuation unit were very efficient.”

Area Commander Tony Rogers: “In such cases we have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. I congratulate the team on a well thought through approach causing the minimum amount of disruption to the neighbourhood.”