HUNTINGTON BEACH : Man Injured in Pool Chlorine Explosion

A container of chlorine powder exploded Sunday morning, injuring one man, frightening neighbors and causing a flurry of fire and police activity in a quiet neighborhood.

Edmund R. Shepardson, 66, was taken to the hospital after he complained of chest pains and a tightening in his throat after the explosion that blew apart the 5-gallon container of chlorine, Fire Capt. Rod Rieger said.

Shepardson’s neighbor, Dennis C. Jerome, said he heard several large explosions followed by several with “less intensity.”

Jerome, a physician, ran across the street where he found Shepardson conscious but apparently suffering effects of inhaling chlorine gas.

“It was pretty noisy,” Jerome said. “It seemed to wake up the whole neighborhood.”

Shepardson was treated at Pacifica Community Hospital in Huntington Beach and released.

Capt. Bill Newton, head of the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s hazardous response team, said he was puzzled by the 9:34 a.m. incident.

“It is a very unusual occurrence. I have been at this for more than 20 years and I have never been on one of these before,” Newton said, referring to an explosion of chlorine powder, used to purify swimming pools.

According to Newton, the five-gallon plastic container became “over-pressurized” when either water or some organic material contaminated the chlorine powder.

He said it “erupted violently” tearing away the lower part of the container. He said the explosion created a cloud of chlorine dust that engulfed Shepardson.

But Newton could not explain the reports of a series of explosions. “I would have thought there would be only one explosion when the container blew apart,” he said.

Newton urged pool owners who use chlorine powder to store it in a dry area and to contact the local fire department if they suspect the powder has been contaminated.