Police Station Cleared Amid Hazmat Scare
Parts of a major Canberra police station were swiftly evacuated on Thursday afternoon following reports of a potential hazardous materials incident. The alarm was raised just after 3pm on January 1, 2026, when a refrigerant alarm activated within the city watch house, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Emergency Crews Descend on City Precinct
ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) crews, including specialist hazardous materials (hazmat) officers and firefighters with breathing apparatus, rushed to the scene on Knowles Place. An ESA spokesman confirmed the incident was reported after the building's internal alarm system was triggered.
Firefighters worked diligently to confirm whether an actual refrigerant leak had occurred. As a standard precautionary measure, the affected areas were evacuated, leading to all police personnel being moved outside the building. The ESA's live incident map indicated the alarm originated specifically within the watch house facility.
Road Closure and Ongoing Investigation
The emergency response led to the closure of Knowles Place, which runs in front of the ACT courts building. Multiple police officers were seen gathered outside their station as the operation unfolded. An air conditioning technician also arrived on site around 3pm to assist in examining the heating and cooling systems.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman later confirmed that a gas alarm had sounded inside the building. The ESA spokesman emphasised that the response from ACT Fire and Rescue and the hazmat team followed strict standard procedures, and the road closure was implemented purely as a safety precaution.
Authorities advised members of the public near the scene to respect all road closures and maintain a safe distance while emergency crews conducted their investigations. The situation was managed without reports of injury.
