By Jennifer Upshaw
The Marin Independent Journal
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Eight people complaining of minor respiratory irritation were taken to Marin hospitals Tuesday morning after a custodian attempting to clear a clogged drain released a noxious cloud of sulfuric acid at a San Rafael residential care center.
Three engines from the San Rafael Fire Department and five ambulances were called at about 11:15 a.m. to the Pine Ridge Care Center at 45 Professional Center Parkway.
The identities of the sick, most of whom were residents, were not released. All but one had returned to the center late Tuesday afternoon. The remaining patient was not expected to be hospitalized, said Melody Chatelle, a Pine Ridge spokeswoman.
“Overall, I think it was very minor,” she said. “We’re grateful for the immediate response.”
The spill, which occurred in a utility closet in the southwest wing of the center, was confined to the area, which included bathrooms and bedrooms, officials said. The worker who spilled the cleaning solution was not affected, officials said.
“It appears there was a mixture of chemicals,” said Steven Hancock, emergency services manager for the city of San Rafael.
Firefighters, with guidance from the county’s environmental health services division, used cat litter and a vacuum to mop up the spill, officials said.
The problem posed no threat to neighbors in the surrounding area, according to officials.
The center is on a hillside just off Redwood Highway in Terra Linda. Professional Center Parkway was closed in one direction at Redwood Highway as police controlled traffic in the area. The road was reopened about an hour later, officials said.
Pine Ridge, owned by Atlanta-based Mariner Health Care, is a skilled-nursing facility licensed for 101 beds, according to the state Department of Public Health.
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