Chlorine spill sends three to ER

EATONTOWN — A chlorine spill by the swimming pool at the Eatonbrook Apartments on White Street on the afternoon of a sweltering July Fourth sent bathers scampering and caused the evacuation of all apartments within 150 feet.

Three persons were taken to Monmouth Medical Center and two others were treated at the scene but refused transport to the hospital, according to police. An additional 10 people were decontaminated as a precaution only.

Borough police responded to a call at 2:50 p.m. that several people had been burned by chlorine at the swimming pool. The fire department was then called in, along with the Fort Monmouth Fire Department hazardous materials team, the Monmouth County Health Department and the regional board of health.

Police said there were about 20 people around the pool when the spill occurred during a delivery of liquid chlorine to the complex’s swimming pool supply house by Carl A. Purnell of the Miracle Chemical Co., Farmingdale.

According to police, Purnell said he had stretched a rubber type of hose, about 3 inches in diameter, over the pool fence toward the pool house. Purnell said he began to pump the product when he heard something explode and then he observed the chlorine flowing freely from the broken supply line on the ground and around several people sitting around the pool area.

Purnell told police he immediately shut down the supply line and took a garden hose and began to dilute the chlorine with water.

Numerous people were decontaminated by the Fort Monmouth Fire Department decontamination unit, according to police. Police said that Fort Monmouth Fire Department Chief John Ericson asked that all apartments within 150 feet of the "hot zone" be evacuated due to risks posed by wind changes. That request was handled by borough police and fire department members.

The pool decking area was hosed down and all contaminated property was disposed of properly, police said. They said the pool was closed and control of it was turned over to the board of health and the complex board president, Irwin Shpok.

The pool was to be kept closed until the chlorine was stabilized at safe levels.

Police said both Purnell and the owner of Miracle Chemical Co., Bill Neumann, said they frequently dispense chlorine into populated areas.