Hazardous materials threaten Glendale industrial park

GLENDALE, AZ - Firefighters evacuated businesses at an industrial park near Camelback Road and Tom Murray Avenue after being alerted to a hazardous materials threat.

Daniel Valenzuela with the Glendale Fire Department tells ABC15 that there were some pool chemicals inside a tractor trailer that were stored too close to each other. They began to smolder which is what prompted people in the area to call 911.

"It was smoking," said Peter Valdivia, who works at a metal plant next door. "They had us get out of the building and then evacuated the whole block."

About a dozen workers were evacuated into the heat.

Firefighters had to work carefully in the extreme temperatures to guard against heat illness.

"It is like climbing up Camelback Mountain wearing a coat and carrying weights," said Glendale Fire Captain Tom Lizzara.  Hazmat scenes are always difficult in the heat because of how temperatures can affect compounds and because it usually takes a long time to clear the scene.

The chemicals did not catch on fire.

Firefighters will spend most of the day assuring that there is no danger of fire or any airborne contamination.

Firefighters are working shifts and taking extreme precautions while working the extended situation in the heat.

Most of the businesses in the park are closed so only a few workers were affected.

There are no homes evacuated or in danger at this point.