Four Hurt in Ohio HazMat Incident
Chlorine was mistakenly pumped into an tank containing fluoride at plant
September 2, 2015
NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) —
Four people were hurt when chlorine was mistakenly mixed with fluoride and emitted poisonous fumes at a northeast Ohio water treatment, fire officials said Tuesday.
No chemicals spilled in Monday's accident at the North Canton Water Treatment Plant but the mixture caused dangerous fumes to escape the 500-gallon tank of fluoride, said Jackson Township Fire Chief Tracy Hogue.
Three of the people who were treated at hospitals were released Monday evening, Hogue said. He didn't have information on the fourth person. The threat was contained to one room at the plant and posed no danger to the city's water supply, officials said.
Hogue said a truck driver mistakenly pumped chlorine instead of fluoride into the tank. The plant was evacuated and the truck driver and three plant employees were taken to hospitals.
Emergency personnel responders urged people who lived around the plant to remain inside and urged motorists to avoid nearby roads while firefighters investigated the scene.
A commercial hazardous material company ventilated the building on Monday, Hogue said.