A “noxious odour” of unknown origin prompted an evacuation and hazmat team response at a BC Cancer building near Royal Jubilee Hospital on Thursday.
The hazmat team was called just after noon, and was joined by paramedics and fire crews from both Saanich and Oak Bay detachments in response to the odor.
Out of precaution, the second floor of the building was evacuated due to the unknown nature of the powerful fumes that were coming from the clinic’s pharmacy area, Provincial Health Services Authority said in a statement.
Both PHSA and Island Health said the hazmat incident had no impact to patients or entrances at Royal Jubilee Hospital, though traffic on the hospital campus and the area of Bay Street and Richmond Road was affected.
The second floor of the building remained evacuated as of 3 p.m.
“The health of our staff, patients and visitors is our top priority. We are continuing to take every precaution as the situation evolves,” a PHSA spokesperson said in a statement.
Patients who had appointments at the building are now likely to be rescheduled and will be contacted later in the day by BC Cancer, PHSA said.
Officials have not yet confirmed the nature of the noxious odour and whether they were indeed hazardous.
Access to the RJH emergency department through Bay Street at Richmond Road has not been affected.
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