Seven people were injured after a chemical spill in a New Jersey gym on Thursday, police said.
It started inside the LA Fitness building on Milltown Road in North Brunswick at around 7 a.m., just before people called 911 to report a strong odor.
North Brunswick Fire Department Chief Leo Whalen said there was a chlorine smell in the building and the county’s hazmat team was called in.
“Upon arrival, we did find a chlorine smell coming out of the building, so we did evacuate. We sent some members in their full protective gear to make sure that the building was totally evacuated,” Whalen said.
Firefighters said a tanker truck driver was delivering what was likely chlorine for the gym’s indoor pool when the spill occurred. The driver was among the seven people injured
North Brunswick police said four people were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University hospital for treatment. Fire officials said those victims were complaining of respiratory issues due to the strong smell of the chemicals.
Police were urging people to stay away from the shopping center, specifically LA Fitness. The center also includes a Dollar Tree, a Lidl and other various businesses.
As of Thursday afternoon, the building was being aired out and the chemicals were being cleaned up. Maintenance on site were trying to figure out how to get the pool reopened
Middlesex County Hazmat crews will investigate exactly what happened.
