POINT BREEZE (KYW Newsradio) — Police, fire, counter-terrorism, hazmat and SWAT personnel were dispatched to a home on S. 22nd Street in Point Breeze Friday afternoon after neighbors reported a strong smell of ammonia and bleach coming from inside the residence.
Eventually, every house on the block and ones nearby on Latona and Oakford streets were evacuated as crews conducted their work around the potential hazmat situation. Roads remained closed in the afternoon for a couple of hours.
A neighbor who spoke to KYW said the situation was initially really concerning for her and other nearby residents.
“Basically, the whole block was blocked off with fire trucks [and] police cars,” she said.
Philadelphia Police Captain Kenneth McKinney explained why authorities turned out in such force.
“We handled [it] like a standard barricade situation. All for safety, community safety, and for fire board safety and our safety,” he said. “Once we got no response, our teams, they suited up, checked the first for chemicals, negative for a hazmat situation, checked for the well being of the person inside, if anybody was inside.”
McKinney says they discovered the house was empty during the initial response by crews.
The neighbor, referenced above, also told KYW that L&I came by and deemed the property unsafe for human occupancy; notices were also posted stating occupancy is illegal.
After a chemical check by fire crews, neighbors and those evacuated on surrounding blocks were given the "all clear" to return to their homes.
An investigation remains ongoing into what caused the strong odor.