A chlorine gas exposure incident at the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre in Victoria prompted an ongoing investigation. A City of Victoria spokesperson noted that eight individuals required hospitalization after two chemicals inadvertently combined. The incident occurred last Friday, with approximately 90 patrons and 13 staff present at the facility at the time.
Details of the Incident
Upon the release of chlorine gas, the facility was evacuated, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area, which has since been lifted. Colleen Mycroft, the intergovernmental and media relations manager, confirmed that the facility is safe for entry but will remain closed until Tuesday morning. The investigation will continue in collaboration with WorkSafeBC, and it remains unclear which two chemicals caused the hazardous gas.
Response and Safety Measures
The Capital Regional District HAZMAT Response Team was called to manage the situation. They successfully disposed of the chemicals involved in the incident. Notably, this incident marked the first time in 25 years that a fire department response was necessary for a chemical exposure in Victoria.
Facility Background and Future Plans
Crystal Pool is the only public pool in Victoria. In February, a referendum approved borrowing nearly $170 million to construct a new facility, as the current one is over 50 years old and set to close this fall. Mycroft mentioned that the recent incident is not attributable to the aging infrastructure of the facility.
Health Response
- B.C. Emergency Health Services responded around 11 a.m. on the day of the incident.
- Eight stable patients were transported to local hospitals after initial assessments.
- Island Health did not provide updates on patient conditions due to privacy laws.
Emergency rooms at two nearby hospitals were temporarily cleared in anticipation of arriving patients. However, a Code Orange was not declared, which is typically reserved for disaster or mass-casualty situations. The situation continues to be monitored as the investigation into the cause of the chlorine gas exposure proceeds.
