Eight people were sent to hospital after a hazmat incident at Victoria’s Crystal Pool Friday.

Victoria Fire Department Chief Daniel Atkinson says crews were first alerted to the incident around 11 a.m.

“We received our first 911 call that people were experiencing what was described as a chemical type of smell resulting in difficulty breathing and pain in their upper throat,” Atkinson told CityNews.

“On arrival, we quickly determined that there was an exposure to a chemical type of substance in the air.”

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Pool staff escorted everyone away from the premises, he says.

“Once the situation was known to them, everybody from the public was evacuated to a position of safety, including staff as well,” he said.

“Once we determined that there was a chemical exposure, we created an initial isolation distance and notified our hazmat team to respond to that location.”

Atkinson says they reached out to the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC), the government agency operated by Transport Canada that deals with incidents involving dangerous goods.

“[CANUTEC] initially advised us to isolate 60 metres immediately downwind and advised the people in those properties to close their windows, close their doors, turn off their air conditioners, and remain inside,” Atkinson said.

“So we did that immediately.”

As they worked to ventilate the scene, crews determined they needed to increase the isolation distance to 300 metres downwind.

This resulted in a shelter-in-place notice being issued by the city for the entire area.

Atkinson says the investigation is in its early phases, and it isn’t clear what caused the incident.

“What we do know is that two chemicals did get combined, and the result of that was an off-gassing that we believe had a concentration of chlorine in it, which resulted in that upper respiratory discomfort,” he said.

BC Emergency Health Services says eight patients were taken to hospital in stable condition.

“Four ambulances with primary care paramedics, an ambulance with advanced care paramedics, a link and referral unit, and a paramedic supervisor responded to the scene. Paramedics assessed 10 patients and transported eight patients to hospital in stable condition,” said BCEHS Paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites.

Atkinson says the exact status of those taken to hospital isn’t clear.

“My understanding is that the symptoms of those eight individuals vary from what’s being described as a more severe type of upper respiratory discomfort and difficulty down to very minor in nature, so a sort of scratchy throat, if you will,” he said.

The issue has been resolved, and there is no ongoing risk to the public.

“The product has been fully isolated, and the hazard has been completely mitigated,” said Atkinson.

The shelter-in-place advisory was lifted by 3 p.m.

Anyone with symptoms of exposure, including burning eyes and lungs, is advised to seek medical attention.

Crystal Pool is set to reopen April 14 at 5:30 a.m.

With files from Canadian Press.