E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSCHATTANOOGA -- An ammonia leak prompted evacuations in an industrial area in Chattanooga early Tuesday.
Bruce Frazier, a spokesman for the Chattanooga Fire Department, said anhydrous ammonia leak was reported at BASF's plant shortly before 5 a.m. local time.
Read more on this story at WRCBtv.com
A portion of Amnicola Highway was closed and several nearby businesses, including a Coca-Cola plant, were evacuated.
"Haz-mat technicians have suited up and made entry to where the leak is occurring," Frazier told NBC station WRBC. "They hope to have the leak shut off soon."
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, suffocating odor. It can cause burning of the eyes, nose and throat if even a small amount is inhaled. Exposure to high levels of the gas can cause death.
Leave a Comment:
Wonder if those pesky regulations caused this leak?
Ammonia is real bad stuff, but also good fertilizer. Also good as a cleaning agent on some things.
An ammonia cloud is heavier than air, so it will hug the ground as it migrates. Here is something I learned working in a fertilizer plant which used anhydrous ammonia as a main ingredient. If you live near an ammonia plant and there is a leak, get as many towels as you can and soak them with water. Wrap the towel around your head and breathe through the towel and you will be OK. Ammonia is very soluble in water, so the wet towel acts to filter out the ammonia.
Hate to hear this.Kinda brings a tear to your eye,don't it.Up in Ohio a farmer had a camera on his tanks because of meth heads trying to steal ammonia.anyway it showed a guy crackin the valve and gettin sprayed fullforce in the face.Law Enf. waited for him to show up at a hosp.,but he never did.Probably killed him.