West Palm man in critical condition after chemical spill in apartment

April 17--A man is in critical condition and three paramedics and a paramedic student were treated after a chemical spill at Palm Club Apartments in West Palm Beach, according to West Palm Beach Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kevin Lewis.

Initially, a paramedic unit responded for a man who had difficulty breathing.

"When they got there they opened the door to get to the gentleman having difficulty breathing and they were overcome by a strong chemical vapor," Lewis said.

Three of the paramedics have been released.

Fire rescue officials are not sure what caused the vapor, but did say the resident mixed two chemicals together that caused an explosion.

HazMat teams made five entries into building finding only a very strong acid. It is not know what the chemical was that caused the vapor.

Residents were finally allowed back into the building around 4:30 p.m.

Matt Warmbier said he arrived home this afternoon just as fire crews were arriving and he stayed inside his apartment.

"I was coming up Community Drive and the fire trucks had passed me," he said.

Warmbier said he initially wasn't aware of what happened.

"I'm just curious as to what it is," he said. "If it's that dangerous, how did somebody have it in their house?"

Copyright 2015 - The Palm Beach Post, Fla.