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5 people, including 2 children, taken to hospitals following chlorine reaction at Eastlake home

Fire Chief Ted Whittington says the victims were mixing pool chemicals inside the house when the reaction occurred. Hazmat crews are examining the area.

EASTLAKE, Ohio — Five people were taken to the hospital following a chemical incident at an Eastlake home Thursday evening.

According to Fire Chief Ted Whittington, residents were getting their above-ground pool ready for the summer and mixing chlorine chemicals inside their home when a bad reaction occurred. First responders arrived at the scene on Saint Lawrence Boulevard just before 6:15 p.m., at which time those affected were rinsing themselves off with a garden hose.

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"We don't believe that there was actually an explosion," Whittington told the press, though family members say there was an "audible boom" that shook portions of the home. "What we believe was there was a chemical reaction and the chemical reaction got hot and probably spewed the chemicals."

The victims were taken to local hospitals after reporting burning eyes and trouble breathing, but all are said to be in stable condition. Six others inside the house were not experiencing symptoms, per Whittington.

An investigation into the incident is underway, but the reaction itself is believed to have been accidental. Hazmat crews were called to the area and are still conducting tests, but neighbors were not forced to evacuate and Whittington says the chlorine vapor cloud has already begun to dissipate.

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