A special hazardous materials team was needed to clean up a large amount of chlorine that splattered every where in the kitchen of a Muncy home in the 500 block of South Market Street last Wednesday morning, according to Muncy Area Fire Chief Scott Delany.

Fortunately, no one was injured when chlorine exploded inside the house as two different brands of the chemical were being mixed together by one of the tenants about 7:45 a.m., Delany said. Despite the explosion, there was no fire.

“Follow the directions on the (chlorine) bag,” Delany warned.

The family was mixing pool chemicals in their home when there was a small explosion, but no fire, Delany said.

The incident could have been catastrophic, Delany said, adding that family members could have easily been overcome by the chlorine fumes.

“When mixing any pool chemicals, it must be done in an open, well-ventilated area, meaning outdoors,” he said.

While volunteer firefighters were able to ventilate much of the fumes from the home, a hazardous materials team from Northumberland County came to the scene and cleaned up all of the chlorine.

“Much of the kitchen was just soaked with the chemical,” Delany said.

In another fire incident, Hepburn Township Fire Chief Jeff Tempesco said the cause of last week’s shed fire at the home of Ryan Merritt and Rachel Bartley at 2456 Route 973 West will go undetermined.

The shed, which was used to store lawn tractor and other equipment, was a total loss, and damage was estimated at $20,000. The fire broke out about 8:30 a.m. on May 17.