A chemical leak at US Foods in Alcoa prompted city officials to order a shelter-in-place yesterday night, as concerns about an ammonia spill were raised. Residents and businesses were alerted around 8:10 p.m. to the potential hazard, as first responders from the City of Alcoa Fire Department arrived at the scene with heavy equipment and additional personnel. "At no time did we get any readings outside of the plant facilities and at no time was the public in danger," Alcoa Fire Chief Roger Robinson reported in an interview with WVLT News.
The incident led to the main road coming into the area being closed, yet it was reopened more than four hours later, around 12:33 a.m. Saturday after the leak was contained. Frequent updates, including a reassuring social media post, came from the City of Alcoa Fire Department, detailing the situation and advising residents in the Kings Court area and Hall Community to shut off their HVAC units to prevent the spread of fumes. The ammonia, used in refrigeration at the facility, posed no lingering threat to the public since "the liquid is released, it turns to vapor," Robinson explained, noted WVLT News.
The Fire Department closely monitored the ammonia levels, which they declared "not dangerous" after the cessation of the leak. The cleanup process, which, unlike liquid spills, requires no significant removal of contaminants from the site, was to begin promptly. According to a Facebook post by the City of Alcoa Fire Department, they utilized the guidance of drone footage to manage the situation and secure the faulty valves responsible for the malfunction that caused the leak.
The collaborative efforts between the Fire Department and US Foods technicians were pivotal in addressing the spill. "We worked great with US food service personnel,” stated Robinson, in a testament to the swift and effective response that averted potential danger. There may still have been residual fumes lingering. Still, the levels were deemed safe for the public following the lift of the shelter-in-place directive, according to WVLT, per updates provided by the City of Alcoa Fire Department. The investigation into the exact cause of the leak is ongoing to ascertain how such incidents can be prevented.
