A City of Victoria spokesperson said an investigation into the cause of exposure to chlorine gas at a local recreation facility was ongoing.
Eight people were taken to hospital Friday after two chemicals combined to produce chlorine gas, and Colleen Mycroft, intergovernmental and media relations manager, said WorkSafeBC staff continues to look into the cause of the incident at the Crystal Pool and Fitness Center.
The spokesperson said nearly 90 visitors and 13 staff were at the facility when the chemical exposure occurred, prompting an evacuation and an order to shelter in place in the surrounding area, which was later lifted.
Mycroft said the facility is now safe to enter, but will remain closed until Tuesday morning, as city staff work with WorkSafeBC to prepare for a 5:30 a.m. reopening.
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He said it was not yet clear which combination of two chemicals produced dangerous chlorine gas.
After the facility was evacuated, members of the Capital District HAZMAT Response Team entered the facility, Mycroft said, and safely disposed of the chemicals.
He said Friday’s incident was the first in 25 years to require a response from the fire department.
Crystal Pool is Victoria’s only public swimming pool, and a referendum last February approved plans to borrow nearly $170 million to replace the facility, which is more than 50 years old, and is scheduled to close this fall.
Mycroft said Friday’s incident had nothing to do with the age of the facility.
BC Emergency Health Services said in a statement issued Friday that they were called to the facility around 11 a.m., and took eight patients to hospital in stable condition, after testing 10 patients.
Island Health said in a statement issued Friday that it could not share updated information about the patient’s condition, citing privacy laws.
Health authorities temporarily cleared emergency rooms at two local hospitals to prepare for the arrival of patients, but did not initiate Code Orange, which is used for disasters or mass casualty events.
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