EPA assisting in investigation

BOISE -- Dangerous levels of mercury forced several Boise families to evacuate their homes.

Hazardous material crews came to a home on White Cloud Drive in Boise Thursday after a report of mercury, and now almost 24 hours later they still don't know where it came from.

But they do know that the three children who played with the liquid metal have been checked out and are fine.

Investigators say their best guess is that the mercury may have been in the streets and gutters three to four days before it was reported.

Since it was out there so long they aren't sure if there were more kids that may have come in contact with it.

HAZMAT teams taped off a large area surrounding two four-plexes saying traces of mercury are coming up all over the area, including inside the homes which they believe could have been tracked in on the kids’ shoes and bare feet.

"The amounts that we know at this time are fairly small amounts. They probably equal less than two table spoons of mercury, although that is more than what you would find in any appliance, so it is something that has been collected possibly," said Mark Senteno, assistant Boise Fire Marshal.

For their safety, six of the families will spend the night some place else while an EPA team from Seattle begins the process of getting the mercury out of the homes.

Crews will be here at least through the weekend and could be here through all of next week while they investigate.

Central District Health officials are going around the neighborhood knocking on doors to handout a fact sheet informing residents of what is going on, and to see if any more people came in contact with the mercury.