Firefighters called to gas leak
Residents
were told to stay indoors and shut their windows as firefighters
spent four hours dealing with a chlorine gas leak.
A member of the public heard the toxic gas hissing from a small
disused cylinder on industrial wasteland in Denton,
Gravesend,
Firefighters were alerted to the scene in Dering Way at 4.30pm
yesterday and set up a 60-metre exclusion zone while the gas
dissipated into the air.
Fire crews brought in a specialist gas detection unit and
paramedics attended the scene as a precaution.
By 9pm, all the gas had escaped and residents could leave their
homes again.
Danny Turner, watch manager at Thames-side Fire Station, said: "We
allowed the chlorine gas to disperse safely, monitoring to make
sure there was no danger to the surrounding area.
"We advised local residents to stay indoors, keep their windows
shut and report any health difficulties.
"Luckily it was raining and that would have assisted in not
allowing any airborne gas to form. We were constantly checking the
air quality.
"The attitude of local residents was good, they were very
co-operative and they took what we said in the spirit it was
meant."
It is not known what caused the leak but the circumstances were not
thought to be suspicious.
09/03/13
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