Chlorine leak draws strong response

A chlorine leak in a well house for the village of Island Lake caused a temporary evacuation while more than 20 fire departments responded as a precautionary measure, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called to the well house on the 3200 block of Waterford Way about 10:30 a.m., where public works employees were alerted by an alarm and a strong odor of chlorine, Wauconda fire officials said in a statement.

Because there were nine 150-pound tanks full of chlorine, firefighters upgraded the calls for a hazardous materials response that drew 21 different departments.

Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. The hazardous materials team secured the leak and ventilated the building. Nobody was injured.