Emergency crews respond to hazmat call at SLO blood donation center
Police and firefighters responded to a hazmat investigation at a San Luis Obispo blood donation center on Monday morning.
At around 9:42 a.m., the San Luis Obispo Fire Department received reports of a hazmat incident at the Vitalant blood donation center at 4119 Broad St., according to emergency services radio app Pulsepoint.
By 11:30 a.m., emergency responders from Cal Fire, the San Luis Obispo Fire Department and the San Luis Obispo Police Department had cordoned off the blood center’s parking lot.
San Luis Obispo Fire Department emergency manager Joe Little said hazmat teams were responding to a report of skin irritation from Vitalant staff members after they had come into contact with a white, powdery substance last week, which a supervisor then reported to the Fire Department Monday morning, according a news release from the city.
Testing revealed that the substance was non-toxic, and emergency responders determined there was no threat to health or safety by around 12:08 p.m., according to the release.
The building was evacuated under an abundance of caution and was cleared to be reoccupied later in the day, Little said.
“The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department reminds businesses and residents that reporting unknown substances promptly allows emergency personnel to safely evaluate potential hazards and protect public health and safety,” the news release read.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026 at 11:48 AM.
