Fire at Sycamore Mineral Springs destroys shed, causes chemical leak
A small fire broke out early Thursday morning at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, destroying a pool shed and causing chemicals to leak.
A caller reported the fire just after 12:10 a.m. It appeared to have started in the storage shed at the resort on Avila Beach Drive.
Firefighters from Cal Fire responded to the scene and quickly called out San Luis Obispo County’s hazardous incident response team. The team consists of firefighters and officials from around the county who are equipped to handle potentially dangerous chemical fires.
Although the fire was quickly extinguished, common pool cleaning chemicals stored nearby were affected by the heat and leaked onto the asphalt surrounding the shed, according to Peter Hague, a San Luis Obispo County environmental health supervisor.
The chemical release was limited to the asphalt, Hague said, and did not leak into nearby San Luis Obispo Creek.
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa is contracting a cleanup company to fully remove the chemicals, Hague added. Although Hague noted the immediate health risks are very low, people are advised to not approach the immediate vicinity of the fire until the cleanup is completed.
