Hotel remains evacuated

Photo: Randy Millis

UPDATE: 7:40 p.m.

A mixture of acid and chlorine sent one person to hospital and prompted evacuation of the Best Western Hotel on Carrington Road in West Kelowna Monday afternoon.

Assistant fire chief Brent Watson said a hotel employee, conducting routine pool maintenance, inadvertently mixed the two chemicals into a bucket.

"The bucket, containing the mixture was safely contained, and then removed to the outside of the hotel, where it was picked up for disposal by a specialty Hazmat company," said Watson.

"One hotel employee was transported to KGH after inhaling the gasses produced by the accidental mixture. Several other employees and guests were assessed on-scene by BC Ambulance, reporting minor symptoms."

They were not taken to hospital.

The hotel remains evacuated. Hotel management are looking for alternate accommodations for the guests affected by the evacuation.

UPDATE: 4:55 p.m.

A West Kelowna hotel has been evacuated after pool chemicals were inadvertently mixed together. 

West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund says they were called at about 3:45 p.m. for reported pool chemicals inadvertently being mixed together.

“Our crews found one person who has sustained some injuries,” said Brolund. 

Hotel guests and staff at the Best Western Plus Wine Country Hotel & Suites were evacuated from the building.
 
“Our crews are there making the area safe and determining what exactly they are dealing with,” said Brolund. “We’ve also requested the hazardous materials from the Kelowna Fire department as well.”

There are no further details about the injuries the one person suffered at this time.

Castanet will update once more information becomes available. 

ORIGINAL: 4:40 p.m.

Firefighters and a hazmat crew are responding to a West Kelowna hotel. 

Crews received the call just before 4:30 p.m. from the Best Western Plus Wine Country Hotel & Suites, located at 3460 Carrington Rd. 

More details to come