Leaking chlorine gas bottles trigger alarm at Sulz swimming pool

Leaking chlorine gas bottles triggered an alarm at the Frutzau swimming pool in Sulz early Thursday, ORF Vorarlberg reported. Firefighters contained the leak, and officials said there was no danger to the public.

A sensor detected an elevated chlorine gas concentration in the dosing facility at about 5.30 a.m. The pool’s lifeguard and the Sulz and Tosters fire services were alerted. Tosters also serves as the hazardous goods response base for the Feldkirch district.

Firefighters found apparently leaking chlorine gas bottles in the room. Wearing a gas-tight chemical protection suit, one firefighter entered and sealed the bottles, Tosters fire chief Daniel Peter told ORF Vorarlberg. The room was then ventilated and the operation ended at about 7.30 a.m.

Chlorine gas is highly toxic and can cause severe irritation to the respiratory tract and skin. According to Peter, the incident was confined to the dosing room and the concentration was not high enough to pose a risk to people nearby.

The swimming pool reopened about two hours after the operation ended. A similar chlorine gas leak occurred at the Walgaubad swimming pool in Nenzing at the end of June.