CLAYTON – The Clayton Fire Department will return to 853 Shotwell Road on Wednesday morning to continue investigating a commercial fire alarm that prompted a multi-agency response Tuesday evening. The situation remains under control, and there is no threat to the public.
Crews responded shortly after 6 p.m. and found light smoke inside the Baystate Pool Supplies suite, located within a larger building housing multiple businesses. There was no visible fire, and no one was inside the unit at the time.
As a precaution, the building was evacuated and a safety zone established around the affected area. Raleigh Hazmat, Johnston County Emergency Services, and surrounding fire departments provided additional support on scene.
“Our team took a cautious approach to ensure the safety of everyone in and around the building,” said Clayton Fire Chief David Ranes. “We appreciate the quick support from our mutual aid partners and want the community to know we are following every safety protocol as we work to determine exactly what happened.”
As part of standard protocol, air monitoring was conducted at the scene. While crews detected a chlorine-like odor that may be noticeable outside the building, levels remained well below anything that would pose a risk to health. People in the area may notice the smell, but it is not harmful. Firefighters are allowing fresh air to circulate and using a protective cover to safely manage and contain the area.
“Incidents like this are rare, but our firefighters train every year to respond to potential hazardous materials situations,” Ranes added. “That preparation allows us to act quickly, protect the public, and coordinate safely with our partner agencies.”
Initial findings showed that the odor came from a chlorine cloud created by a chemical reaction when sodium hypochlorite, a common pool supply chemical, came into contact with water. Firefighters acted quickly to contain the reaction and protect everyone in the area.
Nearby businesses are not affected by the incident, and Shotwell Road remains open.
