Mercury spill prompts evacuation at Midtown lofts, officials say

HOUSTON – Residents of Mid Main Lofts were evacuated Monday after mercury spilled on the fifth floor, hazmat officials said. 

The Houston Fire Department said the incident happened Friday evening at 3550 Main Street, but the resident didn't call for help until Monday.

A man, who recently moved to the apartment, had about two pounds of mercury in a Crown Royal bottle in his apartment, according to HFD.

The resident told investigators that his girlfriend tried to pour a drink Friday night, not realizing what was inside the Crown Royal bottle and dropped it.

A spokesperson said the man looked online for ways to clean it up and threw those materials down the trash shoot. HFD said he then called firefighters for help on Monday.

Residents on the fifth floor were evacuated and will not return Monday night. 

Officials said it tested unacceptable levels of mercury in six apartments on the fifth floor and an apartment on the fourth floor. Officials said a maintenance worker lives in that apartment and had tracked in the mercury.  

A private environmental contractor is in the process of cleaning up the hazardous material.

Two firefighters' gear was exposed and contaminated, police said. The firefighters tested for low levels of mercury but nothing significant to harm their health, according to HFD.

Officials said other floors in the building are fine.

It is unknown what arrangements are being made for the evacuated residents.

The Houston Health Department and HPD Environmental Unit are now in charge of the investigation and HFD said the health department will monitor the apartments for 10 days.

Mid Main Lofts Apartments released the following statement:

“We received a report of a potential environmental issue at Mid Main Lofts. The City of Houston Fire Department and The City of Houston Health Department responded to the incident and temporarily closed access to the building, while they performed their investigation.

“They are now allowing residents on floors four, six and seven to return to their units. The fifth floor is currently being remediated and we are helping residents that have been temporarily displaced. We will advise these residents as soon as they are able to return to their apartments.”

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