A major emergency response is continuing this evening after what is believed to be a ‘nitric acid’ spill inside the University of Plymouth laboratory.
Firefighters were called to the Davy Building shortly after 2pm following reports of a chemical spill on the fourth floor.
The building was evacuated and everyone inside was accounted for while more than twenty emergency vehicles arrived at the scene.
Specialist teams wearing gas tight HAZMAT suits have been seen entering and exiting the building throughout the response as work is underway to identify the scale of the spill and monitor the atmosphere inside the laboratory.
An Environmental Protection Unit is on site to support the operation and to manage the decontamination of firefighters once they leave the building.
Emergency services are expected to remain at the scene for some time. Follow our live updates on this incident here.
Seamus McCoy
A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said:
"Our crews are checking the building and monitoring gas levels after isolating the oven where the chemical reaction occurred.
"We will be carrying out safety assessments and Environmental Protection Units are onsite to decontaminate our crew and HAZMAT team once they exit."
The University of Plymouth has said that nobody has been injured. A spokesperson said:
“Following an incident in the Davy Building on our city centre campus this afternoon, we have worked with the emergency services and ensured it was contained and dealt with appropriately.
"The ambulance service was called in as a precautionary measure, and we can confirm nobody was injured.”
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