BERKELEY – A smoky condition involving pool chemicals led to the all-day evacuation of the Holiday City Clubhouse Tuesday. Authorities say it could have been a whole lot worse.
Berkeley Police responded to the clubhouse on Jamaica Boulevard at around 10:50 a.m. due to the smoke condition. The Berkeley Township HAZMAT Unit and the Manitou Park Fire Department also responded.
Police realized that several gallons of pool chlorine had leaked on electrical apparatus causing the smoke condition.
The area was evacuated and roads were closed to non-essential personnel. As an extra precaution, all Berkeley Township Fire Departments and first aid squads responded including backup units from other Ocean County towns.
No one was injured and police said the cooperative effort of the first responders quickly mitigated the threat of a larger leak or contamination.
The situation was deemed safe at 4:15 p.m. and an investigation is underway by the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau with aid from the Ocean County Fire Marshals, The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
