Skip to content

UPDATED: One sent to hospital because of gas leak from camper refrigerator (with video)

Township fire and ambulance respond to hazardous material report
8296005_web1_170829-LAT-hazmat-call-winston
A Township firefighter inspects a vehicle parked in the driveway of a house on Winston Court Tuesday afternoon. A report of a possible hazardous materials incident drew two fire trucks and an ambulance. Dan Ferguson Langley Times

One person was taken to hospital as a result of a Freon leak in a truck camper fridge in the 2100 block of Winston Court in Langley Tuesday afternoon.

Two Township fire trucks and one ambulance were called to the residential area at 10:44 a.m. after the refrigerator in the camper started leaking and at least one person experienced some respiratory distress.

One woman was transported to hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure.

Her injuries were believed to be minor.

The camper was aired out until the gas dispersed.

The owner was expected to have an RV facility fix the fridge.

Hazardous Materials call in Langley on Winston Crescent #langleytimes #langleybc

A post shared by Langley Times Newspaper 📰 (@langleytimes) on

A fact sheet posted on the Environment, Health and Safety Online website said Freon, a registered trademark for a class of chemicals used in refrigeration known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can pose a hazard for people who have a history of heart problems because it can cause an irregular heartbeat and palpitations at very high concentrations.

Children and pets, especially dogs, are more like to suffer ill effects.

A Wikipedia entry describes CFCs as “colourless, volatile, toxic liquids and gases with a faintly sweet ethereal odour.”

Overexposure at concentrations of 11 per cent or more may cause dizziness, loss of concentration, central nervous system depression, and/or cardiac arrhythmia.

CFC vapours are heavier than air and can cause asphyxiation in confined spaces.

Newer refrigerators do not use CFCs, which were restricted by the international Montreal Protocol of August 1987, because they have been shown to be responsible for ozone depletion.

RELATED: Dozens of fridges damaged during wildfires from power outages

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
Read more