Chemical incident sparks warnings to ‘shut windows’ after chlorine cloud spreads in town | UK | News

Residents were warned to close their windows immediately as firefighters rushed to the scene of a “chlorine cloud” forming over Surrey this afternoon. A Surrey Fire and Rescue spokesman said the force was called to the incident just after noon today and warned the public to keep their windows closed.

They said: “We were called to an incident on Steels Lane in Oxshott at 12.11pm today. We now have three fire and rescue vehicles and three police officers attending. The incident involves a mixture of two materials used for swimming pools creating a ‘chlorine cloud’ in the area. The map shows the area affected.”

Chlorine is a chemical commonly used in a variety of uses, including swimming pools and cleaning, and does not usually exist naturally in a gaseous form, according to experts.

The government states that if the chemical is accidentally released “from an industrial facility or transportation vehicle,” it could be released into the atmosphere as a gas.

People were urgently asked to close their windows as fire crews rushed to the scene in Surrey.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has published a map showing much of Surrey around Oxshott has been affected by the chemical incident.

The fire service confirmed the cloud had cleared by 3.42pm and said: “The chemicals are now under control. Residents can reopen windows and doors as usual as there is no longer a risk to them.”

A spokesman said a fire and rescue service presence could still be seen for the rest of the day.