Overcharged Batteries Cause Of Evacuation At East Boston Firehouse

BOSTON (CBS) - The Summer Street Firehouse in East Boston was evacuated Thursday after there were reports of high levels of hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide.

The Boston Fire Department said that overcharged batteries were the cause of the Level 3 Hazmat incident at Firehouse 239.

Deputy Chief Steve Shaffer said firefighters noticed a strange smell permeating through the house so they got some meters out.

"They got readings high in hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide, both above the permissible limits, so we had to call a hazmat incident level 3," Shaffer said

The batteries were for a spare fire apparatus. Once the batteries were removed from the firehouse, air quality returned to normal.

No one was injured.