A pool chemical mix-up landed a person at the hospital. The incident happened in Ocean View, Delaware, at the Cedar Shores Community Pool on June 16, according to the Millville Volunteer Fire Company.
The unidentified person, added about 2 gallons of liquid chlorine to 50 gallons of muriatic acid in a tank that was about one third full.
After inhaling the fumes, the person was taken to a local hospital and treated for breathing problems.
The chemical mixture produced a gas that began to spread around the pool area and into neighboring homes. As a precaution, residents were evacuated from the condominium and from the neighboring Bayshore Campground. Transportation was provided for the evacuated residents to the Ocean View Church of Christ, involving 9 people and 1 dog.
The only person injured was the person managing the chemicals.
“There was no exothermic response or anything like that to the chemicals,” said Gary Caunitis, who was at the scene with the Millville Fire Company. “So it was fairly well controlled. We’re going to do spot checks on the area before we clear. But until that time, there’s no imminent danger at this point.”
Multiple fire companies responded to the scene in addition to the Millville Fire Company, including Roxana, Dagsboro, Bethany Beach and Frankford, as well as the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland.
The Delaware State Emergency Response Team (SERT), DNREC, Sussex County Emergency Management SERT, Emergency Medical, Mobile Command, DECON and Delaware State Fire School also responded.
