Fire and Emergency has not identified the chemical involved in an incident that left three people needing hospital treatment, including one in a critical condition, in Christchurch yesterday.

A Fire and Emergency shift manager told chrislynchmedia.com crews left the commercial premises on Coleridge Street in Sydenham at around 7pm, handing the property back to its owners.

Asked this morning whether the substance had been identified, the shift manager said: “No, we don’t have an idea what the chemical is, sorry.”

The shift manager confirmed Fire and Emergency would not be carrying out a further investigation and directed enquiries to the building owners.

Emergency services were notified of the incident at 3.50pm yesterday.

Firefighters gained entry to the building to rescue two people who had been overcome by a chemical. The premises were evacuated, and crews carried out decontamination work.

St John sent two ambulances, a rapid response unit and an operations manager.

Three patients were treated before being taken to Christchurch Hospital. At the time of transport, one was in a critical condition and two were in moderate conditions.

A Fire and Emergency command unit also attended.