Photo: Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Moment / Getty Images
Tampa, FL - Tampa Fire Rescue responded to a hazardous materials incident in the Temple Crest neighborhood on Monday morning, prompting evacuations of nearby homes.
The event occurred at a residence on the 4000 block of South Covina Circle, located south of Busch Boulevard and east of North 40th Street.
Fire officials reported that an individual inside the home allegedly mixed multiple caustic chemicals, causing a chemical reaction that led to a small explosion.
The explosion damaged the roof of the single-story home and released fumes throughout the structure.
Tampa Fire Rescue’s Hazardous Materials Team and the Tampa Police Department’s Bomb Squad were dispatched to the scene to manage the situation.
Residents in surrounding homes were evacuated temporarily out of caution and were allowed to return around 1 p.m.
No injuries were reported.
Two people requested medical evaluations at the scene but declined transport to a hospital.
Several state and federal agencies assisted in the response, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations.
Tampa authorities are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the full circumstances and potential hazards associated with the chemical reaction.