From KOAA.com
Eight people sicked by fumes
Hydrochloric acid fumes forced the evacuation of two businesses on the east side of Colorado Springs Tuesday afternoon. Eight people were treated at the scene.
It happened just east of Powers at 1335 Ford Street at the Siemens Water Technologies Plant. The plant, which until recently was known as U.S. Filter, got a delivery of hydrochloric acid Tuesday morning. Some of the fumes escaped, which is a normal part of the process, but apparently the humid weather kept the fumes from dissipating.
The plant regenerates high-tech water filters using acid. It is equipped with an odor scrubbing system, but typically about five percent of the gas escapes into the air. This isn't usually a problem, but with the muggy air, the gas hung closer to the ground where it could be inhaled. "From the north end of the building," said witness Darold Boley, "we saw a huge plume of what looked like steam leave the building. It enveloped the whole north end of the building for a good ten to fifteen seconds."
The vapor traveled north and within a few minutes people started getting sick at Royal Crest Dairy. Eight people were treated at the scene. The gas was allowed to dissipate over the next hour or two. No one at Siemens had smelled the gas.
Posted By: Greg Boyce (Updated: 8/15/2006 5:34:14 PM)
