Open in App
audio iconHazardous Materials Incident - columbia

Evacuation Due to Strong Ammonia Odor in Building

Source: Howard County Police, Fire and EMS
7570 Monarch Mills Way, Columbia, MD 21046, USA
Summary: A strong, unusual odor—identified as ammonia—was reported in a building, primarily affecting the third and fourth floors. The security officer initiated an evacuation at 1811 hours due to the intensity of the odor, which was causing discomfort. Emergency services responded, investigated the source (notably room 305), and monitored for hazardous readings. Some residents, including those on oxygen and those unable to evacuate, required special attention. After investigation, the first and second floors were cleared for reentry, while the third and fourth floors remained restricted pending further assessment.
  1. Partial Reentry Permitted
    01:03

    Auto-Generated Transcript
  2. Investigation of Odor Source
    02:56

    Auto-Generated Transcript
  3. Evacuation and Resident Safety Concerns
    00:13

    Auto-Generated Transcript
  4. Emergency Response Initiated
    00:06

    Auto-Generated Transcript
  5. Security Officer Reports Strong Ammonia Odor
    00:17

    Auto-Generated Transcript
  6. Unusual Odor Detected in Building
    00:02

    Auto-Generated Transcript