Friday, July 03, 2009

Chlorine Leak in Pool Building Being Monitored

The Bear Creek Pool, Muskoseepi Park Pavilion and Grande Prairie Museum are closed until further notice today due to a chlorine leak being detected this morning in the pool building.

Fire Department personnel entered the pool building at noon and shut off the valve to the chlorine tank. Subsequent readings for chlorine levels were negative in the tank room and a small amount was detected in the mixing room. The area is being ventilated and further monitoring to pinpoint the source of the leak and chlorine levels will occur this afternoon.

The immediate area was evacuated after the smell of chlorine was noted outside the pool building at about 9 a.m. Children preparing to take lessons and pool staff as well as employees at the pavilion were evacuated to the nearby tennis courts.

The chemical was contained to the pool building area and no injuries were reported.

Readings for toxicity levels were taken in a 60-metre area around the building and no amount was detected in the immediate area.

The City’s Emergency Operations Centre was activated to co-ordinate response. The Fire Department responded with a command unit, the HazMat unit, a pump unit and 11 fire fighters. RCMP and Emergency Services staff also responded.

The public will be notified when the operations at the pavilion, pool and museum resume.