PHOTO BY CRAIG ROSE Members of the San Jose Fire Department spray down fellow firefighters during a haz mat incident.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — At 6:09 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 units of the San Jose Fire Department were dispatched to reports of a hazardous materials spill at California Waste Solutions located at 1005 Timothy Drive.

Calls from the business indicated that there had been a release of an unknown type of acid resulting in employee complaints of difficulty breathing and nausea. Initial reports indicated that six people were exposed to the substance and five people were eventually transported to local hospitals for precautionary reasons.

First due Engine 5C and USAR Company 5C immediately evacuated all 32 employees from the facility. San Jose Fire's HAZMAT teams arrived and declared the spill a TYPE-A incident requiring the maximum level of personal protective equipment. Once a decontamination area was established and crews were prepared an entry team made their way into the building and quickly secured the substance.