I’m watching the today show this morning. The local atlanta news keeps breaking in because there’s a pool chemical warehouse on fire east of atlanta. They’ve split the screen, the today show on the right, and the plume of poisonous smoke on the left. That’s it, just a plume of smoke. Every once in a while, they break in and give an update (breaking news!) which consists of: the warehouse is still on fire (yes, we can see that), what roads are closed, which way the wind is blowing, that employess shouldn’t come to work (duh!), and that the nearby hospital is already full, anyone who has been overwhelmed should go to another hospital. This has been going on since 6am (when K got up for work)- the exact same “breaking news”. Fine - that’s some good reporting there.

Here’s my issue. The fire is burning chlorine that was destined to be turned into chemicals for pools, so that much of the smoke consists of chlorine. They keep calling this chlorine smoke “an irritant.” Really? I’ve always been bad with chemistry, but isn’t chlorine gas poisonous? Then they keep talking about how if the chlorine mixes with water in the air, it could turn into a “skin irritant.” Yeah. A skin irritant called - HYDROCHLORIC ACID!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!

Fortunately for me, it’s blowing in the opposite direction from where I live. But this can’t be good for anyone who lives in its path, or the little critters in the area. I’ll let you know if there’s been any more “breaking news” on the matter..