Tahoe Douglas Fire responds to chlorine leak at Round Hill

A leak of chlorine gas at a Zephyr Cove business brought out the fire department the Quad County HazMat team and closed off Elks Point Road near Highway 50 for over three hours on Thursday afternoon.

At 3:00 p.m., first responders from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (Tahoe Fire) arrived at a research company on Elks Point Road after a call that chlorine gas had been released. Firefighters responded once it was determined that the gas was BCL3 (Boron trichloride), hazardous materials (HazMat) procedures began.

Tahoe Fire and the Douglas County emergency response team shut down the valve to a chlorine tank on the property. The Quad County hazardous material team responded - a team from Carson City, Douglas County, Storey County and Lyon County.

The public was never exposed and there were no injuries according to Fire Marshal Eric Guevin of Tahoe Fire.

At this hour crews are breaking down, clearing the scene and going through HazMat protocol with removal of suits and a check of vital signs.

During the episode fire crews from South Lake Tahoe, East Fork and Incline Village moved in to help cover the jurisdiction.