DENVER – Fire crews in Denver were able to quickly fix a chlorine gas leak near 40th Ave. and Havana.
The department tweeted several pictures and said they were working to contain a Hazmat situation that was reportedly a chlorine leak. The incident was reported before noon on Friday.
DFD crews working a HazMat leak reported to be Chlorine in the area of 11250 E. 40th Ave. 8 reported injuries due to leak & evacuations of surrounding area is taking place. Please stay away from area as crews determine significance of leak. Updates to follow with additional info. pic.twitter.com/JMbhGn2D0E
— Denver Fire Dept. (@Denver_Fire) August 31, 2018
By 12:15 p.m. the department tweeted that the leak was eliminated and the area around the link was cleared. All evacuations were lifted at that time. In all, Denver fire reported five people were transported to the hospital.
Update on Chlorine leak around 11250 E. 40th Ave. Leak has been eliminated & area's around leak are cleared. Evacuations are lifted. Five patients transported by @DHEMSED media briefing at 12:30pm at 40th and Havana pic.twitter.com/aO1yTEwqRe
— Denver Fire Dept. (@Denver_Fire) August 31, 2018
Low exposure to chlorine gas can cause eye and nose irritation. At high levels of exposure, upper respiratory tract irritation and fluid in the lungs can happen, contributing to a felling of choking.