A chemical incident at Victoria's Crystal Pool has resulted in eight people being transported to hospital. The Victoria Fire Department, along with the Victoria Police Department and the Capital Regional District's (CRD) Hazmat Response Unit, responded to the scene on Friday afternoon.
Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson stated in a press conference that the incident involved chlorine gas. He added that an isolation area extending 60 metres downwind from the pool is in effect. Residents in the immediate vicinity were urged to close their doors and windows, turn off air conditioning systems, and shelter in place. "Chlorine gas is absolutely a dangerous gas," Atkinson said. "When we have an uncontrolled release or an uncontrolled exposure to chlorine gas, it can produce very serious health risks. Potentially deadly."
The source of the gas leak is believed to be in a mechanical room at the pool, although the specific cause remains under investigation. According to Atkinson, "two products came into contact with each other,” resulting in a high concentration of chlorine gas. A portion of Quadra Street has been closed, and the pool will remain closed "until further notice". A follow-up press conference is scheduled for later in the day.
This incident is not the first time a Canadian pool has been affected by a chlorine leak. In 2012, a chlorine leak at a pool in Williams Lake, B. C. sent 70 people to hospital.
