A drum of hydrochloric acid spilled outside a Cherry Creek School District high school this afternoon sending four people to the hospital.
The spill at Eaglecrest School, 5160 Picadilly St., occurred as a 50 gallon drum of the chemical, used in chloronating and disinfecting the swimming pool, was being unloaded, said Cunningham Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Kevin Ferry.
Approximately 20 of the 50 gallons within the drum were released shortly after 3 p.m.
“I don’t know if it was dropped or unexpectedly fell but the drum was breached,” Ferry said.
School was being dismissed at the time.
“There were still some students and staff in the area. Some people were exposed to vapors of the products.”
Eight people were treated at the scene and four of them were taken to a local hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Some students were taken to Thunder Ridge Middle School where they were checked for contamination, said Tustin Amole, a district spokeswoman.
A reverse 911 call was made to notify parents of the occurance and to tell them what to do if their children exhibited any symptoms of exposure to the acid.
“We will be following up to find out how they’re doing,” Amole said.
The school will open on Thursday.
Tom McGhee: (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
