Tenants Evacuated During Hazardous Waste Probe In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, PA — Thirty residents and 12 pets were evacuated Wednesday morning just before 8 a.m. at the Sharpless Work Apartments while emergency officials responded to a hazardous waste incident.

The source of the hazardous waste is a pit-old sewer in the basement of the property at 300 East Evans St., David March, West Chester police public information officer, said Wednesday afternoon.

The scene was cleared at 11:15 a.m.

The investigation was turned over to the apartment complex managers and an environmental service company.

There were no injuries reported.

Chester County Hazard Materials team and firefighters found the location where the hazardous materials were found.

March said all proper precautions and protocols were followed and the incident was deemed safe.

All but the tenants in three apartments have been permitted to return to their apartments, March said.

Those tenants were relocated to another building in the complex.

West Chester Fire Department, Good Fellowship Ambulance, West Chester Police Department, Chester County Department of Emergency Services, and the Chester County Hazards Materials Team responded to the scene.

A tenant who was evacuated said in a Facebook post that the response was incredible, thanking all of the responders.