Hazmat Incident Near Union Square Prompts Evacuation, Traffic Delays

By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

A refrigerant leak at a single unit in an apartment building near San Francisco’s Union Square prompted an emergency response from the San Francisco Fire Department on Sunday afternoon.

SFFD brought a hazmat team to the residence at 625 Bush St. around 4 p.m., the agency said on X, as KRON4 first reported. Three adults were treated for exposure to the leaked substance and have since been released from the care of SFFD medical teams.

SFFD is on the scene for an isolated HAZMAT (refrigerant leak) at 625 Bush Street. This is isolated to a unit in the building. Our Hazmat unit is on the scene, securing the incident. #SFFDEMS is evaluating three adults who were affected by this.

Traffic is impacted on Bush… pic.twitter.com/xBbINf64YQ

— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) February 19, 2024

The situation also caused disruptions in the busy area, leading to traffic delays along Bush Street between Powell and Stockton. SFFD urged the public to steer clear of the affected zone.

Authorities confirmed that the leak was an isolated incident and did not spread to neighboring units.

Refrigerant chemical leaks, usually from HVAC units or refrigerators, can be poisonous — they can cause headaches, coughing, respiratory trouble, dizziness, nausea, or even mild burns if skin gets direct contact. (The chemicals can also be flammable.)

Feature image via SFFD.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.