MFD Hazardous Materials Unit Stops Chlorine Leak

Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui firefighters responded to a report of a chlorine leak at a Department of Water Supply facility in Wailuku at 3:04 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, 2016.

At 3:11 p.m., Engine 1 from Wailuku met with a Water Department representative at the Shaft 33 pump station, mauka of Omaomao Street in the Kehalani Mauka area.

Fire officials say the employee said he was responding to an alarm from the facility and confirmed that there was a gas leak in a storage unit that housed chlorine tanks used to treat drinking water.

Air quality readings indicated chlorine levels that exceeded limits which would allow an unprotected person to enter, according to department reports.

No evacuations of the surrounding homes were necessary since the leak was contained within the storage unit.

Two hazmat technicians from Hazmat 10, a hazardous materials crew from Kahului, donned protective suits and self-contained breathing apparatus before entering the storage container and stopping the leak.

Water Department personnel made the necessary repairs to a faulty device and had the water treatment facility back to normal operation at around 4:06 p.m.