Colorado Firefighters Treated in Chemical Explosion

BERTHOUD, Colo. --

Four workers were exposed in a chemical explosion Friday morning at the Carter Lake Filter Plant, located just southeast of Carter Lake in Larimer County.

A Berthoud Fire spokeswoman said that there was a chlorine leak and four worker who were exposed were decontaminated. Two were sent to the hospital with minor respiratory injurie, said Berthoud Fire spokeswoman Chloe McKinley.

Four firefighters were also decontaminated.

Initially, just after a explosion there was a fog and gas cloud hovering in the area, officials said. The gas cloud has dissipated but fumes can still be smelled, said McKinley.

No evacuations have been ordered but residents in the area were being cautioned to stay inside, keep their doors and windows closed and to turn off their air conditioners, swamp coolers and other types of ventilation systems.

The road that the plant is on -- County Road 8-E -- is closed until further notice.

Judy Dahl, the business manager of Little Thompson Water District, which co-owns the plant, said the chemical explosion occurred when a truck was unloading chemicals.

"Everyone is accounted for," Dahl said.

Loveland hazardous materials crews, the Larimer County Sheriff's Department, and the Berthoud Fire Department are all at the scene.

Chlorine is normally stored as liquid and was used as a weapon in World War I. It can be very poisonous and potentially very deadly if inhaled in large quantities. Chlorine is an irritant to the lung and the lung will cease functioning if exposed to too much chlorine.

The Carter Lake Filter plant is a water treatment plant owned and operated by the Little Thompson Water District and the Central Weld County Water District. The plant can deliver up to 35 million gallons per day of treated water.

The state Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the situation.

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