Hazardous material leak prompts evacuations in Hollister

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 7/1/2020 4:30 p.m. San Benito County officials say evacuations have been lifted in the Hollister area for those affected by the hazmat situation.

UPDATE 7/1/2020 3 p.m. The Hollister Fire Department said the hazardous material that prompted evacuations is a phosphorous product that can be used for pesticides and fumigation.

It is not known how long the product was there, but officials said it could have been left over from farming and was dug up while working on a fence. They said there was a reaction when it was exposed that led to ignition.

A man was at the scene trying to extinguish the fire and got the product on his hand. Officials said he had a thermal burn, but the extent of the injury is still unknown.

The incident took about 3.5 hours to mitigate, and crews are working with homeowners. A hazardous incident cleanup team will help to clean up the scene.

UPDATE 7/1/2020 2:15 p.m. The Hollister Fire Department tells KION that a hazardous material leak that led to evacuations started when someone was doing yard work in the area.

The fire department says something ignited, injuring one person, and crews on the scene say it could have been some type of phosphorus material.

Seaside, Hollister and Salinas Fire are there, and it appears that the scene is starting to reopen.

UPDATE 7/1/2020 1:30 p.m. The San Benito County Office of Emergency Services said it is setting up a center for evacuated residents near Haydon Street and Monterey.

Evacuees are asked to go to the Dunne Park Recreation Center at West Street and 6th Street.

PREVIOUS STORY: Hollister police are conducting evacuations due to what they said is a hazardous material leak.

Initially, police asked community members to stay away from Haydon Street between Monterey and West Street, but that has been extended to include Hawkins Street between Monterey and West Street.

Police and the Hollister Fire Department are at the scene.