The Dalton Fire Department closed a street and evacuated a building today, but it turned out to be just for precaution's sake.
What was reported as a fire and a potential hazardous chemical release actually was just a spill of a solid powder substance called polymethyl methacrylate, a department spokesman said.
"When it was spilled it created a dust cloud that employees thought was smoke, and they called it in as a fire," spokesman Bruce Frazier said.
The Dalton Fire Department "has checked out the scene and has declared it clear and they are demobilizing," he said. "The spill was contained to the building."
The incident happened at the Marktec Building at 1311 Needham Drive in Dalton. Near the site of the fire, residents were being asked to stay indoors, Frazier said. Just one nearby building was evacuated, but they have been allowed to return.
Needham Drive was closed between Grace Street and Kammi Court, which is a span of about a half mile.