Executive Summary
- Shelter-in-Place Issued: Residents near Colusa and Tacoma Avenues in North Berkeley were ordered to stay indoors or evacuate Monday.
- Hazardous Materials: Crews are removing aging photography lab chemicals from a residence in the area.
- Operational Radius: The safety order affects a one-block radius around the intersection.
- Multi-Agency Response: Berkeley Police, Fire, and neighboring agencies are on site managing the situation.
Residents in a North Berkeley neighborhood were ordered to shelter-in-place on Monday as emergency crews worked to remove hazardous materials from a local residence, according to city officials. The Berkeley Police Department issued the directive for individuals living within a one-block radius of the intersection of Colusa and Tacoma Avenues.
Authorities instructed affected residents to shelter-in-place for the day or evacuate their homes no later than 10:30 a.m. While officials did not provide a specific address for the residence in question, the operation focuses on the removal of aging photography lab chemicals. The initial report regarding the nature of the materials came from the Berkeley Scanner.
Berkeley’s police and fire departments, along with neighboring agencies, were deployed to the scene to secure the area. In an online notice, city officials advised residents evacuating to bring essential items, including pet food, leashes, and medications. Officials stated that the duration of the order remained undetermined but assured the public that updates would be provided through the city’s emergency communications channels.
Public Safety Operations
This incident underscores the operational protocols required when mitigating hazardous materials within dense residential zones. The deployment of multi-agency resources suggests a precautionary approach designed to isolate potential chemical instability or exposure risks during the extraction process. By establishing a strict perimeter around the Colusa and Tacoma Avenues intersection, law enforcement and fire crews aim to contain the site effectively, prioritizing community safety while specialized teams neutralize the environmental threat posed by the aging chemicals.
