Kirkwood Firefighters Assist in Chlorine Leak

The following information was provided by Kirkwood Fire Chief Thomas Openlander.

At midnight on Monday December 31, Kirkwood Fire Department hazardous material technicians were dispatched as part of a Haz-Mat Task Force to assist the Monarch Fire Protection District on a chlorine leak at the Missouri American Water Plant at 901 Hog Hollow Road in Chesterfield.

Technical Decon Unit HM-15 and Mini-Pumper 1539 from Kirkwood Fire Station 3, along with three hazardous material technicians and Command Officer 1502 from the Kirkwood Fire Department responded. The Kirkwood units arrived on scene and were advised to set up next to Haz Mat Response Unit HM-23 from the Creve Coeur Fire Protection District.

Missouri American personnel at the plant began to notice a green haze inside the building, so they quickly evacuated and notified 911.  The water treatment plant contains eight (8) one ton chlorine gas cylinders are connected in series with piping and valves.  The chlorine gas is used as part of the process to purify drinking water.  Chlorine gas was leaking from one of the cylinders or more likely in the valves and piping that connected the cylinders.  Prior to entering the plant, Kirkwood HM-15 established the technical decontamination process for the hazardous material technicians that would enter into the chlorine leak area.

Tech Decon Unit HM15 and Mini-Pumper 1539 were used for the decontamination also utilizing the on-board water tank, booster hose line, generator, & lights.  The entry team strategy was made to shut off the control valves and piping that connect all eight chlorine tanks in the series to eliminate all possibilities for the chlorine gas leak.

The entry team included two Kirkwood hazardous material technicians with two Monarch firefighters.  The team was suited in in Level A gas-tight protective suits (moon suits).  Kirkwood Fire Capt. C. Dahm was the team leader.  The entry was successful and all eight of the chlorine cylinders were shut down and the leak was controlled. The leak was believed to be in the piping or control valves of one of the end tanks.

The entry team exited the building and went to decontamination area to be properly cleaned and decontaminated.  All suits and materials used were collected and isolated for proper disposal.  Entry team members vital signs were taken all were in normal limits.  The facility is equipped with a safety device, known as a scrubber.  That device worked to preventing chlorine gas from escaping to the outside of the plant.

Crews picked up returned the units to service and returned to Kirkwood by approximately 03:15 am.  There were no injuries reported by area residents, plant personnel or emergency responders.

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