A major emergency response was triggered in the affluent Surrey village of Oxshott on Tuesday afternoon after a dangerous chlorine gas cloud escaped from a water treatment works, prompting urgent safety warnings for residents.
Immediate Shelter-in-Place Order Issued
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene on Stoke Road following reports of a chemical leak around 3:30 PM. Fire crews discovered a significant chlorine release from the Thames Water treatment facility, creating a hazardous greenish-yellow cloud that drifted through the area.
Authorities immediately implemented emergency protocols, urging residents to close all windows and doors and remain indoors until further notice. The shelter-in-place order remained active for several hours as specialist hazardous materials teams worked to contain the situation.
Multi-Agency Emergency Response
The incident prompted a coordinated response from multiple emergency services, including:
- Six fire engines from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
- Specialist hazardous materials units
- Surrey Police securing the perimeter
- South East Coast Ambulance Service on standby
- Thames Water technical teams
A spokesperson for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: "We were called to a water treatment works following reports of a chemical leak. Crews are currently in attendance and working to make the scene safe. Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed."
Road Closures and Community Impact
Stoke Road was completely closed in both directions between the A244 and A309, causing significant disruption to evening commuters. Local schools and businesses were affected by the emergency measures, with parents advised to keep children indoors.
Social media quickly filled with concerned messages from residents reporting the distinct smell of chlorine in the air. One local resident tweeted: "Can definitely smell swimming pool chlorine in Oxshott. Hope everyone is staying safe."
All-Clear Given After Containment
By early evening, fire services confirmed they had successfully contained the leak and the all-clear was given shortly after 7 PM. The Environment Agency was notified to assess any potential environmental impact from the chemical release.
Thames Water issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming they were working closely with emergency services to investigate the cause of the chlorine leak at their Oxshott Water Treatment Works.
