Hazmat at Mercy Medical Center Reported

Mercy Medical Center has closed its emergency room as officials evaluate a patient who may have come into contact with a hazardous material, according to reports.

Baltimore Fire Department personnel responded to the 300 block of Saint Paul Street before noon to investigate “an incident” at Mercy Hospital, according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

A patient came to the hospital from the 5000 block of Reisterstown Road, where a trash compactor exploded, putting the patient to be at risk of exposure to hazardous material, according to WBAL, which reported hazmat crews were also dispatched to Reisterstown Road.

As of 12:40 p.m. Mercy closed its emergency room and was not accepting new patients while officials investigated the situation, Baltimore’s Office of Emergency Management reported.

Those inside the hospital were sheltering in place, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Mercy Medical Center is located in the 300 block of Saint Paul Place in downtown Baltimore.

Calvert Street is closed between Saratoga Street and Bath Street for investigation, officials said.