Acid Leak, Vapor Cloud Forces Closure Of Rohnert Park Gym

ROHNERT PARK (CBS SF) -- An acid leak early Sunday morning led to the temporary closure of a gym in Rohnert Park, police said.

Police and fire responded to the 24 Hour Fitness at 6345 Commerce Blvd. around 3:40 a.m. after an employee reported that a container of muriatic acid, a chemical used to maintain the swimming pool, was leaking into a large drum containing liquid chlorine, police said.

A cloud of gas was forming in the business, prompting employees to evacuate the gym.

When firefighters and police arrived on the scene no vapor cloud was visible. One employee reported a headache from breathing fumes, but declined medical treatment.

A hazardous materials team entered the building around 6 a.m. and determined the muriatic acid had not mixed with the chlorine. They neutralized the acid and cleaned up the estimated gallon and a half that had leaked out of the container, police said.

The gym reopened around 7 a.m.

Sonoma County fire officials will conduct an inspection this week to ensure that chemicals for the gym's pool and spa were handled and stored correctly.

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