A hazardous materials incident at Port Tampa Bay prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order for residents of Harbour Island on Friday evening, after firefighters reported a release of hydrogen sulphide from a tank at Gulf Sulphur.
Tampa Fire Rescue crews were called to 1015 McCloskey Boulevard shortly before 6.30pm following reports of a possible fire involving a sulphur tank. Heavy smoke initially led emergency services to classify the incident as a structure fire.
Firefighters later said the blaze had caused hazardous material to escape from a tank at the Gulf Sulphur facility. Hydrogen sulphide is a respiratory irritant with a strong, unpleasant odour.
Harbour Island shelter-in-place order lifted
As a precaution, officials closed Sparkman Channel to all traffic and ordered people across Harbour Island to remain indoors from 7.42pm. The order was lifted at 8.51pm once the immediate risk had eased.
The channel remained closed to recreational vessels while crews continued working at the scene. Tampa Fire Rescue said the original fire had been brought under control, but firefighters would stay until the incident had been fully mitigated.
Gulf Sulphur operates a molten sulphur terminal within Port Tampa Bay, where sulphur is stored and transferred for shipment.
Authorities had not confirmed what caused the fire. No further details about injuries or exposure were immediately available.
