Hazmat team responds to Auburn orthopedic facility

Valley Regional Fire Authority firefighters responded to a report of explosive sounds and an unknown gas venting from the Cascade Orthopedic Center early Saturday morning, but a hazmat team found conditions to be safe.

March 12, 2016 1:18 pm
VRFA firefighters responded to a report of an unknown gas venting from the Cascade Orthopedic Center early Saturday morning
VRFA firefighters responded to a report of an unknown gas venting from the Cascade Orthopedic Center early Saturday morning

For the Reporter

Valley Regional Fire Authority firefighters responded to a report of explosive sounds and an unknown gas venting from the Cascade Orthopedic Center early Saturday morning, but a hazmat team found conditions to be safe.

The call was reported at 2:41 a.m. When crews arrived they found no damage to the building, at 122 3rd St. NE, but saw a plume of gas venting from the roof area. A regional hazardous materials team was dispatched to investigate the gas and streets were blocked off around the building, located near the MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Hazardous materials specialists from Kent Fire RFA and South King Fire entered the building to conduct air monitoring and found conditions to be safe. The gas was determined to be nitrogen, used for cooling a medical imaging machine.

The scene was turned over to building maintenance.