Hazmat and police clear Habitat Crescent home of concern

Residents are back in their homes in Habitat Crescent after police determined there was not a threat of potential explosives in a home.

Edmonton police have cleared a home in Habitat Crescent that prompted an evacuation order on Tuesday night.

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Police and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services hazmat teams started clearing the home near 50 Street and 131 Avenue at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

It had been secured and closed off since April 26, when police visiting the home found various chemicals that could be precursors to making explosives.

“(The search) revealed chemical substances that are not commonly found in a household by themselves,” said police Insp. Sean Anderson. “By themselves, they’re not so much an issue.

“The concern is whether there’s chemicals that have been combined that we’re not aware of as part of that search.”

The decision was made to evacuate nearby homes while the scene was more thoroughly searched and the chemicals were removed.

• ‘Possible explosives’ prompt temporary evacuation of northeast Edmonton homes

Forty-one residents living nearby were asked to leave their homes on Tuesday night as a precaution.

One resident, Veronica, decided not to leave.

“I just thought that everything was going to work out,” she said. “And my grandson didn’t really want to go either, and I wasn’t going to leave him behind.”

Veronica said she wasn’t told too much about what was going on, just that there was some material that might be hazardous. She wasn’t afraid, she added, because there were plenty of police around.

“I said a few prayers, I’ll tell you, but decided that you know, everything’s gonna be OK,” she added.

At 1:46 p.m., police said all materials in the home had been tested and no explosives or volatile chemicals were found. A chemical cleanup company was called to remove all remaining materials.

Residents of the complex were free to return home.

Police said they continue to investigate. No charges have been laid against the man who lives in the home.