(steely)
I'm in GA. WSB TV has the following posted on their website:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/3610476/detail.html
Explosion Prompts Evacuation
Ammonia Leak Occurred During Maintenance Work, Official Says
ATLANTA -- Two people were injured Tuesday after an apparent ammonia leak occurred inside a south Fulton County warehouse, prompting officials to order the evacuation of the industrial complex and consider evacuating a nearby residential area.
The two-alarm blaze occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. at Americold Logistics, located in the 6100 block of Xavier Drive. According to the company's Web site, the firm specializes in consumer packaged goods.
It was not immediately clear if the two victims were employees at the facility or if they were emergency responders. According to initial reports, they were overcome by the ammonia after it was released during the accident.
Gary Andrews, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources, said the leak apparently occurred while maintenance work was being performed on a line inside the facility, which is able to hold up to 40,000 pounds of ammonia. He said up to 2,000 pounds of the chemical escaped the building during the accident.
The high concentration of the chemical, which can lead to death if it is inhaled or cause respiratory damage, triggered the blaze, authorities said. Firefighters used their ladder trucks to pour water on the blaze and the building.
Law enforcement authorities ordered several workers in nearby buildings to leave the area out of a fear that the ammonia cloud could spread. Fulton County Officer Gary Sybilis said police have cordoned off an area of 500 feet from the site while crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
Some roads in the area were also shut down.
Hal Justice, a spokesman for Americold, said all of the company's employees have been accounted for. He said the warehouse has 500,000 square-feet worth of space.
Amen,......Infinite Grace and Mercy,......In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!!
(Romans 10:17)
Explosion Prompts Evacuation
Ammonia Leak Occurred During Maintenance Work, Official Says
POSTED: 12:39 PM EDT August 3, 2004
UPDATED: 1:33 PM EDT August 3, 2004
ATLANTA -- Two people were injured Tuesday after an apparent ammonia leak occurred inside a south Fulton County warehouse, prompting officials to order the evacuation of the industrial complex and consider evacuating a nearby residential area.
The two-alarm blaze occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. at Americold Logistics, located in the 6100 block of Xavier Drive. According to the company's Web site, the firm specializes in consumer packaged goods.
It was not immediately clear if the two victims were employees at the facility or if they were emergency responders. According to initial reports, they were overcome by the ammonia after it was released during the accident.
Gary Andrews, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources, said the leak apparently occurred while maintenance work was being performed on a line inside the facility, which is able to hold up to 40,000 pounds of ammonia. He said up to 2,000 pounds of the chemical escaped the building during the accident.
The high concentration of the chemical, which can lead to death if it is inhaled or cause respiratory damage, triggered the blaze, authorities said. Firefighters used their ladder trucks to pour water on the blaze and the building.
Law enforcement authorities ordered several workers in nearby buildings to leave the area out of a fear that the ammonia cloud could spread. Fulton County Officer Gary Sybilis said police have cordoned off an area of 500 feet from the site while crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
Some roads in the area were also shut down.
Hal Justice, a spokesman for Americold, said all of the company's employees have been accounted for. He said the warehouse has 500,000 square-feet worth of space.
It was ammonia, and about 3 miles downwind of my job.
Pure chlorine gas will readily react with the moisture in the air producing HCl, hydrochloric acid, which condensing will appear a white cloud.
Chlorine or ammonia? Ammonia can itself explode under certain very limited conditions, but an ammonia release would be the signal to get out right away.
ping
you ok?