Vented chlorine forces evacuation

By Rose Hooper

A worker near the Carolina Water Service Inc. water treatment plant smelled what he suspected was a choline leak and immediately called emergency personnel.

"Our new fire station in Sapphire is right near the water treatment plant off U.S. 64, so we responded within three minutes of the call," Cashiers-Glenville Fire Chief Randy Dillard said. "The plant does automatic ventilating," said Dillard, "and apparently a vent went off. At first we thought it was a leak. We went in and closed the main valve to the line and had it secured within two hours."

Nine holes on the Sapphire Mountain Golf Course were also closed during the operation. Some 50 condominium residents were taken to Sapphire¹s new community center during the two-hour evacuation.

"We borrowed chemical suits and air packs from Macon County," said Mike Ensley, emergency services coordinator for Jackson County. "A team of four went in, while two remained as standby."

The three who went in with Ensley were Ray Crawford, captain of the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad, and firefighters Phillip Farmer and Todd Dillard. Suited up and on standby were firefighters Scott Smith and Clay Bryson.

The regional Hazardous Materials Response Team from Asheville was called in, but the situation was contained by the time they arrived, Dillard said.

Also assisting were officers from the Sapphire Police Department, N.C. Highway Patrol, Blue Ridge Public Safety and the Jackson County Sheriff¹s Department.

Rob and Tammy Williams of Carolina Smokehouse in Cashiers provided lunch for the 26 volunteers, Dillard said.

Back to Archive: 10/04/01.