Orange : 9 Injured in Gas Leak at Pool Chemical Firm

A cloud of gas leaking from a pool chemical company sent nine people, including police and firefighters, to the hospital and closed the 1300 block of North Manzanita Street for two hours Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Fifteen firefighters and police officers responded to a report at 12:44 p.m. of a “strong-smelling odor” coming from Aqua Ben Corp., said Officer Bob Gustafson, spokesman for the Orange Police Department.

The gas was apparently produced while workers at the company were mixing dimethylamine, a highly flammable chemical, with formaldehyde, a strong irritant, Gustafson said. He could not identify the gas produced by the mixture.

Gustafson said the company produces chemicals used to remove contaminants from pool water.

Two police officers, three firefighters and four employees from neighboring businesses were taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, complaining of shortness of breath and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, Gustafson said. The names of those who went to the hospital were not available Tuesday night, but Gustafson said one police officer was released and sent home.

Officials evacuated 50 employees from surrounding businesses and closed the street until about 3 p.m., Gustafson said.

The Orange County Health Care Agency and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are investigating, Gustafson said.