A chemical reaction within batch-mixing equipment at a small industrial business in west Eugene led to a street closure and building evacuation Thursday, Oct. 22, Eugene Springfield Fire said.

Firefighters called to the 600 block of McKinley Street at about 10:45 a.m. arrived to find smoke and gases being released, according to a news release.

Eugene Police Department personnel closed the roadway between Fifth Avenue and midblock, and a lightly acrid smell still hung in the air shortly after 1 p.m.

Ed Meyer, a battalion chief, said at the scene outside Willamette Valley Co. that about 30 firefighters responded initially. With help from a company chemist, emergency personnel soon realized the catalyst resin involved did not pose a danger requiring additional building evacuations, Meyer said.

“The information we got is it’s going to be stinky, but as long as it doesn’t get too hot, it’s not going to be a problem,” Meyer said. 

He said the temperature of the materials did not continue to rise, however. If it had, there was concern about a fire and noxious fumes, he said.

Meyer estimated that the building evacuation affected about six workers. Meyer said just before 1:30 p.m. that a private hazardous materials company was expected to do further cleanup.