Pool chemicals cause small Austintown explosion

Pool chemicals cause small Austintown explosion

Austintown

Township fire crews evacuated several homes as a precaution after swimming pool chemicals caused an explosion.

The small explosion happened at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday at 3448 Briarwood Lane when a bottle of bromine chemicals reacted to sunlight exposure, said Fire Capt. Don Conroy.

“The homeowner had some pool chemicals in the basement and one of the bottles had a cap blow off. ... Some of the chemicals spilled out,” Conroy said. “We cleared out the houses right around there because it’s very toxic and there was a strong odor.”

Conroy said the Mahoning County Hazardous Materials team was called in to clean up the spill, and residents were allowed back in there homes several hours later.

“It’s a very toxic substance that causes breathing problems and stuff like that. We didn’t want to take any chances,” he said.