Building Evacuated on Report of Possible Sulfuric Acid Leak

Ridgewood emergency responders evacuated a downtown commercial office building Sunday after a report of a possible sulfuric acid leak from a battery.

According to Cpt. Robert Kozielski, a worker in the basement of 45 N. Broad St. smelled an odor he suspected was sulfuric acid just before 3:30 p.m.

The building's basement contains assorted batteries and other equipment for the Nextel cell antennas on the roof, according to officials.

Bergen County HAZMAT was called to the scene and after ventilating the building, the agency allowed occupants to return shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

There were no reports of illness or injury, and carbon dioxide readings in the buiding were low, responders said.