Hazardous Chemicals Force Evacuations After Sorrento Mesa Fire

SAN DIEGO -- A fire and resulting chemical release forced evacuations Friday at a Sorrento Mesa firm that produces medical-diagnostics tests and equipment, authorities reported.

The blaze at Biosite, 9975 Summers Ridge Road, erupted for unknown reasons shortly before noon, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The flames, which were confined to a single room, were quickly extinguished by an in-house sprinkler system, SDFRD spokesman Lee Swanson said.

Company officials, however, told arriving firefighters that the blaze apparently had resulted in the leak of a potentially toxic chemical, Swanson said.

All workers were cleared out of the facility while a hazardous-materials team cleaned up the spilled substance. One person who suffered some type of minor injury while hurrying to evacuate was treated at the scene, Swanson said.

Emergency crews gave an all-clear for the facility to reopen about 1:45 p.m., the spokesman said.

Swanson said he was unsure of the type of chemical that escaped during the blaze.