HazMat team called to Orléans hotel after 10 kids suffered from ‘burning eyes’

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) says their Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team was called to a hotel in Orleans on Tuesday.

At around 8:41 p.m., firefighters were called to the Quality Inn at 3363 St-Joseph Boulevard. Staff reported a strong chemical smell on the first floor of the hotel. OFS says 10 children were coughing and complaining of burning eyes.

Staff told firefighters that the children had been in the pool area.

Firefighters noticed a strong odour of chlorine upon entering the four-storey hotel. They were told that the pool had just opened after undergoing renovations.

The OFS HazMat team found that chlorine levels in the pool were normal but levels in the hot tub were high.

They shut down the hot tub’s chlorinator until it could be checked for proper operation in the morning.

OFS reported that the pool area was closed for the remainder of the night until the chlorinating systems could be checked and repairs completed if needed.