Darien Chlorine Leak Contained, One Injured

Darien, IL - A Darien police officer was injured Tuesday after a chlorine leak was detected at the city's water treatment facility.

The leak was contained by hazardous materials teams, though the cause of the leak has not yet been determined, according to the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.

The fire protection district responded at 1:40 p.m. May 17 to the chlorine leak at the facility, 1220 Plainfield Road in Darien. Employees of the city's public works department found and reported the leak.

The small leak was contained within a water treatment building that contains two 150-pound chlorine cylinders, creating "an extremely hazardous condition," the fire protection district reports.

Wind blew small amounts of the chlorine gas through the area, and several small businesses, a grocery store and a daycare center were evacuated. Area residents near the leak were asked to stay inside with doors and windows closed.

The hazardous materials teams contained the leak, and the police officer with minor injuries was treated and released at the scene, the fire protection district reports.

Hazardous materials teams and firefighters were brought in from Argonne, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Brookfield, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, LaGrange Park, Lisle-Woodridge, Pleasantview, Tri-State and Lemont.