Chemical leak causes YMCA to evacuate

By DEBBIE PALINSKY

May 29, 2008 11:44 pm

— MADISON — A chemical leak from a delivery truck caused the Madison YMCA on North Lake Road to evacuate late Thursday afternoon.
“At this time we believe the chemical to be chlorine,” Madison Village Administrator Matt Zapp said. The spill was contained and no injuries were reported.
A chemical truck delivering chlorine to the YMCA began leaking in the parking lot near the main entrance of the building. The building was evacuated due to the proximity of the leak as a safety precaution.
“Chlorine is a toxic chemical and very caustic. This is not something you want to breath,” Zapp said,. “You can’t be within 75 feet of it without wearing a respirator.”
The driver of the truck remained at the scene and was assisting the departments by identifying the chemicals he was transporting,, Zapp said.
The Madison Fire District received mutual aid from Perry, Painesville, Geneva, Wickliffe, Hazmat and Lubrizol.
“The mutual aid system worked well and Madison Village was thankful for their response,” Zapp said.
Palinsky is a freelance writer from Madison.

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