[Archived] 911 Employees Return to Public Safety Center after May 1st Evacuation

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2011

News Highlights:

• 911 Call Center resumed normal operations as of 9 am on May 2.
• Fire Department units checked the 911 Call Center at 4am and 8 am on May 2 and determined the building was safe to reoccupy.
• 911 Call Center was evacuated and running from back-up dispatch center on May 1.
• Non-emergency and phone numbers for police and fire were unaffected.
• Adjacent Adult Detention Center unaffected by odor.

At 9:00 am, May 2, the Alexandria 911 Call Center resumed normal operations at its Mill Road facility. 

On May 1 at 9:02 am Alexandria Fire Department units were called to 2003 Mill Road, the Alexandria Public Safety Center, to investigate an odor in the building.  Alexandria Firefighters and Medics responding as the Hazardous Materials Team discovered a contractor on scene who was in the process of sealing a locker room floor on the first floor with a chemical.  The chemical product, Scofield Formula 1, was being applied with acetone to seal the locker room floor when the odor began causing headaches to Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) 911 Call Center personnel on the second floor.  The 911 Call Center was ordered to be evacuated by Fire Department and relocated to the City’s back up 911 Call Center.  911 and non-emergency services were not disrupted.   Radio communications with police and fire units was also unaffected by the incident.  Seven City employees at the facility were evaluated by paramedics.  No employees required medical assistance, and Fire Department units cleared the scene at 2:10 pm.

At 4:00 am and 8:00 am on May 2, firefighters rechecked the building located at 2003 Mill Road and determined the facility was safe to reoccupy.  All 911 Call Center personnel have returned to the Mill Road facility. The City’s backup 911 Call Center has been shut down.   911 and non-emergency phone service was operational during the evacuation and relocation on May 1 and the return to the Center on May 2.

For more information, contact Robert Rodriguez, Chief Fire Marshal / Community Services Officer, Alexandria Fire Department, at 703.746.5217 or robert.rodriguez@alexandriava.gov