Exeter Hospital Scene Cleared; Cause Of Hazmat Issue Unknown

EXETER, NH — Exeter Fire and Rescue teams, hazmat crews, and others have cleared the scene at Exeter Hospital and have handed the facility back to hospital officials, according to reports. Officials, according to Rockingham Alert, were unable to identify the source that caused nearly 20 people to become sick. The affected areas of the hospital have also been cleaned.

Early reports from the mass casualty incident reported an unknown odor on Aug. 11, from the emergency room with numerous firefighters and ambulances coming to the hospital from around the region. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Exeter NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Rockingham Alert reported earlier that the odor was reportedly caused by an anesthesia chemical leak.

Exeter Fire Chief Brian Comeau, at a press conference earlier tonight, said they found no issues inside the hospital. He added that he had never seen anything like this before and the chemical could have been something that evaporates easily.