-Submitted photo
Two members of the regional hazardous materials team walk out of the Duncombe water plant while working to control a chlorine leak there Wednesday afternoon. No evacuation was needed and no one was hurt during the incident.

DUNCOMBE — A significant chlorine leak occurred at the Duncombe water plant Wednesday afternoon, but no one was injured and no evacuation was necessary.

The leak was reported at 1:20 p.m.

A city employee was doing a daily check of the water plant and discovered a “very serious chlorine leak,” according to Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter. He responded to the scene with Fort Dodge firefighters who make up the regional hazardous materials team.

Hergenreter said the leak was in a regulator on one of two 250-pound chlorine tanks in the water plant.

Firefighters in chemical protective suits went into the water plant and shut down both tanks. Then the plant was ventilated.

The water plant is on the city’s east side and the wind was coming from the southwest, blowing the chlorine fumes away from the city.

“It couldn’t have been more ideal,” Hergenreter said.

Chlorine is used to kill bacteria in drinking water.

The regional hazardous materials team was assisted at the scene by Duncombe firefighters and Otho-Duncombe police. Emergency personnel were on the scene until 4:30 p.m.

The Fort Dodge firefighters left the scene of an explosion and fire at 3015 Ninth Ave. S. to respond to the leak.

“These were both major incidents,” Hergenreter said. “Our staff did a phenomenal job having two major incidents at the same time.”