Hazmat Team Called To Upper Chesapeake

A Harford County Hazmat team responded to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air Monday afternoon after a worker noticed a strong odor coming from a room that holds biological waste.

The area was quickly contained and there did not appear to be any risk to hospital patients, staff or the neighboring community as of 3 p.m. Monday, Martha Mallonee, director of communications with Upper Chesapeake, said.

Someone at the hospital was disposing of waste in a room off the loading dock when they noticed a strong odor around 12:30 p.m. , Mallonee said.

Because the room is typically used to hold bio waste, staff immediately notified Harford County Emergency Operations who in turn dispatched a Hazmat team, Mallonee said.

"They are now in the process of identifying it, containing it and disposing of it," Mallonee said.

As of 3 p.m. it was unclear what caused the smell and where exactly it originated.

"It's a very small amount, it is contained, but we are taking it seriously," Mallonee said.