LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Both a Lauderhill fire station and a school were evacuated after, police said, a woman brought hazardous materials to the station after cleaning her home.
Lauderhill Police responded to Station 57, at 1980 NW 56th Ave., at around 4 p.m., Tuesday.
According to police, a woman brought a five-gallon bucket to the fire station while cleaning out her late husband’s belongings from her home. Investigators said the woman believed that medical supplies were inside of the bucket, and she needed to dispose of them properly.
Police said they found magnesium shavings, liquid glycerine — a component of TNT — and potassium nitrate inside of the bucket. They added that when the listed materials are combined, they are explosive.
However, the chemicals were in separate plastic containers within the bucket.
“Within the five-gallon Home Depot bucket were three containers that would equate to what you find at Publix or one of these supermarkets with pretzels in it — plastic containe,” Lauderhill Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Levy said. “Another container was a peanut butter — a JiF Peanut Butter container — and then the third container was a larger container filled with individual bottles.”
“She was cleaning out her house in Davie from her deceased husband, who is a former Vietnam veteran,” Levy said a another point. “She came across these materials. She wasn’t sure what they were.”
Levy added that the woman drove from fire station to fire station, but after finding no one, she made her way to Station 57.
The fire station was evacuated, and 56th Avenue was closed to traffic while police investigated. Police expanded their perimeter at around 5 p.m.
Lauderhill Fire Rescue officials said 97 students and staff from nearby Royal Palm Elementary School were initially placed on lockdown. However, the school was evacuated through the back exit.
Nearby pedestrians were not allowed to walk close to the scene.
“We’ve been stuck over here for the past hour and 30 minutes now because we can’t get home,” a passer-by said.
“We just know that it’s very dangerous, and we shouldn’t be over there right now,” a second passer-by said.
FBI investigators also responded to the scene, fire officials said.
#Lauderhill #Breaking containers containing possibly shaved magnesium, liquid glycerine (TNT) and potassium nitrate was brought inside the lobby of fire station. Entire headquarters evacuated and 97 students and staff from Royal Palm Elementary are on lockdown. FBI is in route.
— Lauderhill Fire PIO (@LauderhillFDPIO) October 1, 2019
7Skyforce HD hovered over the scene where an orange bucket could be seen outside of the building.
A Broward Sheriff’s Office bomb squad unit responded to the scene to investigate the hazardous materials. Their robot slowly separated all of the containers before hazmat personnel packed them and took them away.
“If you have materials and chemicals in your house that you’re not sure of, call 911 before you transport them around the county,” Levy said. “Fortunately for everybody here, they didn’t mix, and everyone’s safe.”
Investigators could be seen carrying the orange bucket and a black box towards the staging area.
Aerial cameras also captured the bomb squad placing their robot in the back of the vehicle.
Authorities said the woman stayed on the scene and cooperated with them. She does not face any charges relating to the incident.
Aerial footage showed several emergency vehicles beginning to clear the scene.
No injuries have been reported.
Drivers in the area were asked to seek alternative routes because of the road closures.
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