A pool service truck carrying liquid chlorine and muriatic acid caught fire and ruptured a chlorine container, prompting a hazardous materials response from San Rafael firefighters, the City of San Rafael reported in a press release published Thursday, July 23.
The city did not specify the exact date or location of the fire. A San Rafael Firefighters union Instagram post from July 21, described a multi-agency hazmat response to a vehicle fire in Novato the previous day involving compromised chemical containers in a truck bed. The city has not confirmed whether the two accounts describe the same incident.
What happened
The Ford Ranger pickup, owned by a local pool service company, was hauling chemical containers in its bed when the fire broke out. As flames intensified, one chlorine container became compromised and burst open, releasing hazardous chemicals.
The Marin County Hazardous Materials Response Team dispatched Captain Cespedes and Firefighter Drake Martin to the scene. Martin suited up in specialized chemical-protective gear and entered the hazard zone to secure the remaining containers and prevent further releases.
He worked alone inside the hot zone.
The firefighters' union Instagram post, which received 495 likes, described the team wearing "full chemical protective suits and breathing apparatus" and noted they "identified the substances, safely secured them for a cleanup company, and contained/neutralized all runoff." The post tagged Central Marin Fire, Marin County Fire, and Novato firefighters, indicating a multi-agency response.
Why the chemicals matter
Liquid chlorine and muriatic acid are chemically incompatible. When mixed, they produce chlorine gas, which causes immediate respiratory irritation at concentrations above 1 part per million, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Federal transportation regulations under 49 CFR 177.848 require physical separation of the two chemicals during transport.
That incompatibility is what made the ruptured container dangerous beyond a typical vehicle fire. A firefighter entering the scene faced potential exposure to chlorine gas in addition to heat and smoke.
What's unknown
No injuries to responders or bystanders were reported. The city did not release information about the cause of the fire or the name of the pool service company. Captain Cespedes's first name was not included in the press release.
Residents who encounter a chemical spill or hazardous materials emergency should call 911.
