COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Fire Station (CSFD) says part of the nursing home has been evacuated and the crew of the dangerous goods are on the scene at 104 Lois Ln.
The CSFD says the building's small wings were evacuated as a precaution. I couldn't think of any preliminary measurements, but the Hazmat team is getting more measurements.
The department says it believes the cleaning chemicals were inappropriately mixed and steam could have spread into the vent.
Two people were sent to the hospital due to “mild respiratory illness.” Third parties were handled on the ground, CSFD said.
“I wondered what was going on. And they said there was a chemical smell, so everyone went out really quickly,” Ernest Beasley lived in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation centre in the garden for many years. Beasley said he didn't smell gas and the first time he heard about gas was when the nurse came to evacuate him from his room.
“They said there was a chemical spill, and everyone said they really need to get out right away,” Beasley said.
The CSFD said extra precautions were taken as the at-risk population lives in the centre.
“Chlorine gas produced. It's pretty nasty. If you take it well, it can be a real, authentic, medical emergency,” said Colonel JJ Halsey of CSFD.
Of the centre's 43 residents, 23 were evacuated. Tonight, a facility spokesperson says that all residents are safe and everything is back to normal. The spokesman couldn't say exactly what workers were doing when the chemicals mixed in, creating dangerous gases, but added that those chemicals are regularly used to clean central rooms.
