Residents in Surrey were advised to quickly close their windows as firefighters responded to a chlorine cloud incident in the area. The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service revealed that a significant part of Surrey, particularly around Oxshott, was affected by the chemical release.
Officials mentioned that the fire and rescue service presence would continue for the remainder of the day. Sussex Fire and Rescue later confirmed that the situation was under control, allowing residents to safely reopen their windows and doors.
A spokesperson reassured the public, stating that the incident had been successfully resolved, and there was no longer any risk to residents. The fire service maintained a presence at the scene for several hours, with activity still observed in the area after 4pm, almost four hours post-initial response.
Chlorine, commonly used in swimming pools and cleaning, does not typically occur naturally in a gaseous state. However, it can be released into the air as a gas if accidentally leaked from an industrial site or transport vehicle, according to government guidelines.
The Surrey Fire and Rescue team received the call for assistance just after midday, responding to an incident involving a chlorine cloud formation in Oxshott. The service deployed three fire and rescue vehicles and three officers to address the situation.