False Alarm event in United Kingdom on Wed 6th November 2024

A HAZMAT crew was called to the scene of a "suspicious substance" after two people became unwell while driving.

Emergency services attended the car park near McDonald's in Joule Road, Andover, at around 7pm on Sunday, November 3.

Two people became ill while driving and were attended to by the ambulance service.

The area was closed off and the Hazardous Materials (hazmat) team from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to reports of a "suspicious substance" discovered in the car park on Joule Road.

Crews investigated the scene and determined that the substance was in fact, not hazardous.

Following this assessment, crews were stood down at 9pm and the site was re-opened.

Police confirmed that "there is no investigation into this incident."

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service told the Advertiser:

"Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Hazardous Materials team responded to a report of a suspicious substance discovered in a car park on Joule Road in Andover on Sunday evening.

"Emergency services were called to the scene at 7 PM, prompting the immediate closure of the area for safety. The hazmat team conducted thorough tests and concluded that it was not hazardous.

"Following their assessment, crews were stood down at 9 PM, and the site was reopened to the public."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary told the Advertiser: "Police attended the carpark at McDonald’s, Hundred Acre roundabout, Andover on the evening of Sunday, 3 November to assist the ambulance service who were dealing with two patients who had become unwell while driving.

"Officers liaised with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service who carried out their own investigations at the scene.

A spokesperson for the South Central Ambulance Service confirmed to the Advertiser that two patients were exposed to an "unknown chemical."

They said: "We attended, as the initial call came in about people feeling unwell, but neither patient required transferring to hospital."