AUGUST 18, 2016
PHOENIX, AZ - Six firefighters were taken to the hospital after fighting a fire involving chlorine gas near McDowell Road and 32nd Street early Thursday.
They have since been released.
"This is not our regular bread and butter," said Cpt. Rob McDade of the Phoenix Fire Department. "This isn't a house fire where we know what we're dealing with."
Five were treated for respiratory issues related to ingesting chlorine. Another was treated for a knee injury after scaling the roof of the building.
"[It's like] an asthma attack-type feeling," said hazmat firefighter Kevin Kotmer, describing how it feels to ingest the pungent chemical. "[It was a] lungs-were-burning-type of sensation."
McDowell Road was closed from 32nd to 36th streets as firefighters battled the blaze, which was out by 5 a.m.
The fire was inside a building belonging to a pool company, meaning firefighters had to deal with chlorine and other pool chemicals.
Fire officials said the air around the scene was clear of chlorine shortly after the fire was extinguished, saying the area is safe for residents to go about their normal business.
Crews worked to keep the water runoff, with possibly high levels of chlorine, out of the local sewage system.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.