At least eight people have been transported to hospital as a result of chlorine gas at Crystal Pool, according to Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson at a press conference on Friday (April 10) afternoon.
There was a shelter in place order for residents in the area, asking them to close their doors, shut their windows, turn off the AC, though the order was cancelled as of 3 p.m. A portion of Quadra Street was also closed, but since reopened.
“Chlorine gas is absolutely a dangerous gas,” said Atkinson. “When we have an uncontrolled release or an uncontrolled exposure to chlorine gas, it can produce very serious health risks. Potentially deadly.”
The eight people who were hospitalized all had varying levels of upper respiratory discomfort and distress, he said. Staff originally reported there was a “noxious smell” in the air that resulted in discomfort in the nose, mouth, and upper respiratory tract.
He said they believe the problem started in a mechanical room, however the incident is still under investigation. As of 2 p.m., they say the department was proceeding with an entry team that will be initiating mechanical ventilation to clear the space before a crew “isolates the product.”
“What I do know is two products came into contact with each other,” he added. “The combination of those two products did produce this high concentration chlorine gas that was allowed to escape.”
The pool is closed “until further notice,” according to the City of Victoria’s website.