Two people hospitalized after chlorine gas incident at Bessborough hotel

Two people have been taken to a Saskatoon hospital after an accidental release of chlorine gas at a hotel in downtown Saskatoon.

According to the Saskatoon Fire Department, a hazmat crew was dispatched to the scene at the well-known Bessborough hotel on Spadina Crescent shortly after noon on Friday. The fire department said the incident was caused by “the accidental mixing of chlorine and muriatic acid,” which released chlorine gas.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) confirmed normal air quality and declared the scene all clear at 3:05 p.m.

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According to the Saskatoon Fire Department, two people were taken to hospital after the chemicals were accidentally mixed. (Saskatoon Fire Department/Submitted)

I’m standing right outside the Bessborough Hotel where the Hazmat Unit had to be called after chemical was spilt.

A majority, if not all of the hotel had to be evacuated and two people were taken to hospital.

It looks like crews are slowly tearing down. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/NIckEbNhkq

— Shane (@ShaneC06) January 24, 2025

The contaminated areas had already been evacuated by the time the hazmat team arrived, the fire department noted. The gas release was contained and the crews worked to ventilate the area, and remained on the scene to monitor air quality.

“The ambulance service took two patients to hospital,” the fire department noted. “Their condition is not known.”