Leaking acid forms toxic cloud at Elk Grove High School

Fire officials from more than a dozen suburbs were called in Sunday to help clean up a hydrochloric acid leak at Elk Grove High School's pool.

Lt. Mike Keenan, acting battalion chief for the incident, said firefighters were called to the school around 11:15 a.m., after hearing reports of an activated fire alarm.

After firefighters encountered a massive vapor cloud in the pool area of the school's basement, Keenan said crews were pulled out to suit up in "Class A" hazardous material suits, complete with breathing apparatus, before they could re-enter the building.

Keenan could not immediately comment about the exact source of the leak, other than it was in the pool area.

By 4 p.m., he said the leak had been stopped, and the pool had been neutralized with the help of the chemical sodium bicarbon.

Hydrochloric acid is used to lower pH levels in swimming pools.

The area was still being ventilated early Sunday evening.

Keenan estimated that about 55 officials worked the scene. While no one was injured in dealing with the chemicals, he said Sunday's extreme temperatures resulted in more firefighters being rotated in to avoid exhaustion.

Surrounding Departments included Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Township, Glenside, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Wheeling and York Center.