Sulfur odor traced to battery backup in commercial building, Fairfax VA
Fire & ArsonEmergency responders found a sulfur smell in a commercial building near Merrilee Dr. The building was evacuated. The odor was traced to a battery backup system emitting a smell similar to a bad battery. No dangerous gases were detected, and the battery area was slightly warm but not hazardous.
Audio|Source: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
05:28
Transcript:
00:00
Once the recon zone is cleared, we'll have our own waterside alpha of the building.
00:05
Sound direct.
00:06
Rescue 401 is going to be on team.
00:07
It's going to be a one-story.
00:08
It looks like a commercial building.
00:10
We'll be investigating 1-305, the 9-401s on the team, outside Washington Gasland Team.
00:14
We'll start on the recon, working our way up.
00:16
Fairfax for the tiny 4-1 will have seen establish the command.
00:18
The command post will be at the buggy.
00:19
All units from Permanagh, Washington Gas and was seen, I spoke with them, they cleared the recon zone as well as the building for gas, the reporting odor of sulfur.
00:26
The building's been evacuated.
00:27
Engine 430, Matic 430, on Channel 4, Bravo, Box 43000[1], EMS level 1, near Merrilee Dr, lost dog cafe, cross street, Hallst Square Road.
00:40
Engine 430, Matic 430, on Channel 4, Bravo, Box 43000[1], EMS level 1, near Merrilee Dr, lost dog cafe, cross street, Hallst Square Road.
00:53
Engine 404, ambulance 431, on Channel 4, Bravo, Box 4305, EMS level 2, near Reston Parkway, Cross Street, Reston Parkway, Engine 404, ambulance 431, on Channel 4, Box 4305, EMS level 2, near Reston Parkway, Cross Street, Reston Parkway.
01:17
Command from Rescue 401.
01:19
Go ahead.
01:20
Rescue 401 is going to start checking the occupants that we're called for.
01:24
We're going to send the truck to the other end for exposure to start working that way.
01:27
Copy the truck on to the Bravo Exposion, that's correct.
01:29
Affirmative.
01:30
Affirmative. So washing gas there is no gas to the building.
01:33
Command Jocca.
01:34
Okay. Engine 431, Cemention 439.
01:36
Looks like we're going on out of each end.
01:37
We'll take that same nitrogen truck.
01:38
31, copy.
01:39
Thank you, 12th from Fairfax.
01:41
Are you still 104, as well as all units on the same?
01:43
Yeah, Samuel is 440 future Sarado, see, well, those nations are clear out here.
01:47
104, 826.
01:48
How are you on, Craig? There are no readings on the interior of this building.
01:51
It does have the odor of like a bad battery.
01:53
We're investigating in the OR area.
01:54
Copy. Trunk 425 from command any readings and the exposure?
01:58
there's no readings all the way to the bravo end of the building spoke with an oxen that they said they started to notice the smell yesterday more on the delta end of the building
02:09
command's okay one from command
02:10
yes
02:11
Talking with the building occupant, she just letting me know that in the OR, there is some type of generator that they utilize it as four car-sized batteries inside there, and she thinks that's where the other is coming from.
02:22
I'm not sure if you found me yet.
02:23
Yeah, we're looking for like that.
02:25
If you can give you a better direction, that would help.
02:27
There are a sick, surgical space back here.
02:28
Okay, stand by.
02:29
Register 4 on from command.
02:31
Okay,
02:32
she's advising it's in the clean room office area, so if you went in the front door, turn to left, then it should be in there.
02:41
Copy. Command from Fairfax, it's 10 minutes and 2 incident.
02:44
Command's okay on 10 minutes.
02:45
831.
02:46
Commandant from Rescue 401.
02:47
Go ahead.
02:48
Source does appear to be coming from the batteries backup system.
02:52
We've isolated it.
02:53
No readings on the thermal, but it does feel slightly warm.
Police codes explained
The following codes appeared in the transcript and are explained below:
[1]
Box 43000: Fire/EMS incident box area code
Disclaimer:
This was transcribed by AI and may contain errors. Please verify the information independently.
Location mentioned:
Near Merrilee Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031
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