July 21--One person was taken to a local hospital and an entire apartment building was evacuated Sunday following what was likely a suicide attempt that involved chemicals, the Madison Fire Department said.
Around 8:45 p.m., police and firefighters were called to an apartment building at 409 W. Doty St. for an attempted suicide, the Dane County 911 Center said.
One person was transported from the building to Meriter Hospital. That person's condition was unknown as of midnight Monday, said Lori Wirth, a spokeswoman for the Madison Fire Department.
Authorities found chemicals inside the apartment that caused them to evacuate the eight-unit building.
"They did find something in the apartment that caused concern but everybody did get out safely," Wirth said.
Police cordoned off the entire 400 block Sunday night into Monday while the fire department's hazardous materials unit dealt with the scene.
Around midnight, Wirth said it would be at least two hours until residents would be allowed back into their apartments.
She did not know how many people were displaced, but said it was her understanding that most residents found places to go while they were evacuated. A Metro transit bus was still being brought to the scene in cause anyone needed shelter, she said.
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