More than a dozen people, mostly children, were being evaluated by paramedics Thursday night after they went to the pool at a YMCA in Mission Valley and reported feeling ill, fire officials said.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to a reported chemical leak at the YMCA located in the 5500 block of Friars Road at around 6 p.m. Crews found a group of children coughing after some type of chemical was released in the pool.
As of 7:15 p.m., all patients — 11 children and 2 adults — were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, SDFD said in a post on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
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It is unclear if the injuries were from contact or inhalation.
"It sounds like it was just more of a mild irritation, some coughing, mild shortness of breath," SDFD Battalion Chief Juan Flores said.
The pool area was evacuated, but other parts of the YMCA remained operational.
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"There is no active release now," Flores said. "We've done atmospheric monitoring, water monitoring, and monitoring of the equipment area."
The cause of the leak is still under investigation. The Department of Environmental Health and the county's Hazmat Unit are investigating and will remain at the scene.
Maintenance personnel were working on the pool, which may have led to a small chemical spill, SDFD said.
This story will be updated with the latest information.
