South Whitehall Township police were notified shortly after 5 a.m. May 1 of a possible chemical spill at GEO Specialty Chemicals, 2409 N. Cedar Crest Blvd.

According to police in a press release May 1, an odor of fabric softener was smelled in the air.

Members of the Lehigh County Special Ops/HAZMAT Team, as well as Woodlawn and Palmer township fire departments, Cetronia Ambulance and the City of Allentown paramedics responded to the scene.

Police say the chemical released had no immediate threat to the community.

However, out of an abundance of caution, residents within a one-mile radius of the plant were notified by Lehigh County Communications to shelter in place.

This communication was through the county’s reverse 911 system.

Technicians from the Lehigh County HAZMAT team met with plant personnel to evaluate the situation.

According to police, they agreed the situation was under control and around 7 a.m., the shelter in place was lifted and residents within the one-mile radius were informed it was safe to go outside.

Citizens who live or were traveling through the area may have smelled the unusual odor.

However, the spill has been contained and a clean up is in the process, police said in the press release.