32 Hospitalized After Explosion At Oconomowoc Resort
OCONOMOWOC - According to a hospital official in Oconomowoc, 32 people went to an emergency room following what is described as a minor explosion at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center.
The explosion happened after 9:00 a.m. Tuesday at the resort on the 1300 block of Royale Mile Road.
The Oconomowoc Police Chief says that an employee was mixing a chemical with chlorine in the basement are of the resort when the explosion happened.
The owner of Olympia, Rick Eckert, says it was purely an accident. "The two chemicals were mixed together and started smoking in the plastic container. The employee put the cover on it, which was a mistake," he explained.
That employee suffered multiple fractures and she was also taken to Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital. She also suffered mild burns and eye irritation. She was last reported to be in good condition.
Eckert says all resort employees were required to go to the hospital to be checked as a precautionary measure.
Police and hospital officials with Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital say that the majority of those who came to the hospital went there as a precaution to check for minor respiratory problems, while a couple of people had been exposed to chemicals.
Some of those people were first responders, including police officers and ambulance workers. Many did not have any symptoms and were checked out only as a precaution. Others reported skin and throat irritation. Everyone has been treated and released from the hospital except for the woman caught in the initial blast.
Waukesha Hazmat crews went to the scene to clean up.
Officials evacuated a basement area where workers were at the time, but they did not move any hotel guests.
There is no damage to the hotel. Eckert says nobody blames the employee.
"We're just happy this was resolved peacefully and everybody's in pretty good shape," he said.
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