THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Fire & Rescue (TBFR) responded to a report of an unknown substance found inside the banking institution just after noon time today.
The incident involved First Responders including units of the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The incident was dispatched to Thunder Bay Fire & Rescue (TBFR) as a hazardous materials incident due to the unknown characteristics of the substance that was encountered by staff in the building.
Upon arrival fire crews immediately established an isolation zone around the bank building and cleared all staff away from the building keeping them in an area of refuge where they could be safely assessed for any possible exposure to the substance encountered in the bank.
TBFR expanded their response operations to include HAZMAT Technicians who were immediately brought to the scene. These firefighters are specifically trained to mitigate the risks associated with the possibility of hazardous substances that were believed to still be present within the bank. TBFR firefighters and hazmat techs donned special protective suits and equipment in preparation to enter the bank to isolate the substance located inside.
TBFR command staff worked closely with Thunder Bay Police Service staff to create a plan to identify and test any possible hazardous material found inside the bank. TBFR entered the bank to take samples of the substance found inside and with the assistance of police were able to determine that the substance was non-hazardous.
Once conditions in the bank were confirmed to be non-hazardous, the building was turned over to management and staff who were allowed to safely return to the building.
TBFR responded with a total of 3 pumpers, a Hazardous Materials Response Unit and a Command unit.
