Update: Hazmat Incident Closes Gwinnett 911 Center

Update, 5:45 p.m.

From Gwinnett Police email: “The Gwinnett County 911 Communications Center has reopened and normal operations have resumed. Investigation into the cause of the fire suppression system activation is ongoing.”

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Update, 4:45 p.m.

Gwinnett Police said employees heard a “boom” before the facility’s fire suppression system apparently malfunctioned and led to the hazmat incident that closed down the Gwinnett 911 Center Monday morning.

The center was still closed down late Monday afternoon; 911 operations have been moved to the Gwinnett Police Headquarters and the department’s Mobile Operations Center as the cleanup continued. There is no word on when employees will be allowed to return.

All but one of the five employees who were taken to the hospital have been released.

Police said in an email that a supervisor smelled an odor of smoke shortly before 10 a.m. There was no fire or smoke seen, however. The “boom” may have been due to the activation of the fire suppression system, but is being investigated.

A ceiling tile fell onto an employee, also possibly caused by the activation of the system, but the injury was not considered critical, police said.

Police said the fire system exposed employees to FM-200 heptaflorapropane, a fire-extinguishing agent (gas) that is an irritant with short-lasting effects.

“There was no sign of any other hazardous material. It suppresses fire by interrupting the oxidation process,” Cpl. Michele Pihera said in the afternoon email.

Investigators were still looking into why the system activated.

Pihera added in the email:

GCFD is currently investigating the origin of the disruption, but there has been no sign of fire at this point. FD personnel have checked using thermal imagers, etc.

Communications Supervisors train on the transfer of operations regularly and ensure that their people are aware of the equipment it takes to do so. Roll call training and new- hire training reinforces the process.

Shortly after the incident took place, several off-duty members of the Communications Center were called and asked to assist in 911 Center duties. Despite this being their off-day, many of them showed up at GCPD Headquarters to help with the continuation of essential emergency services.

The 911 Center will be close until after the completion of the investigation.

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Update, 12 p.m.

Authorities say the Monday morning mazmat incident at the Gwinnett County 911 Center on Hi Hope Road was a “hazardous material” associated with the facility’s fire suppression system.

Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said the system activated at 9:56 a.m. ”for an unknown reason.” The incident is being investigated.

“The fire suppression system is not a typical water sprinkler system used in most buildings,” Smith said in an email. Five 911 Center employees were taken to local hospitals for evaluation. They had possible respiratory issues caused by the fire supression system, Smith said.

The 911 Center has been evacuated as the damage is being assessed. The center’s operations have been moved to police headquarters.

“Any disruption to delivery of police and fire services was minor and has been resolved,” Smith said.

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Original post

An apparent hazardous material incident forced an evacuation at the Gwinnett County 911 Center on Hi Hope Road Monday morning.

Gwinnett Police said five employees were transported to the hospital for evaluation. Police said in an email sent at 10:53 a.m. that 911 services have been restored after a brief shutdown.

Police said a member of the 911 Center reported an emergency at 9:56 a.m., forcing an immediate evacuation.

Gwinnett Fire referred to the incident as at a “hazmat call” in an email.

Check back for updates.