Chemical leak stopped, investigation begins in Alcoa

ALCOA, Tenn. (WVLT) – Alcoa city officials ordered a shelter in place after an Ammonia chemical leak at US Foods Friday night.

Officials got notified about a chemical smell in the area around 8:10 p.m.

The City of Alcoa Fire Department responded with three engines, a command vehicle, a hazmat trailer and called in off-duty personnel.

Units were taking readings with meters in the area to monitor the levels as crews triaged the leak, according to Alcoa Fire Chief Roger Robinson.

“At no time did we get any readings outside of the plant facilities and at no time was the public in danger,” Robinson told WVLT News. “All this was done in precautionary measures just in case things got worse.”

They shut down the main road coming in until the leak was stopped more than four hours later, around 12:33 a.m. Saturday.

“What took so long was that the parts per million was so high in the room, the area of origin of the leak, we had to let that dissipate a little bit,” Robinson said.

He said they had their eyes on it the entire time with a drone.

Responders went in with guidance from that drone video and shut off two valves, saying it was a valve malfunction.

After the valves were shut off, the shelter in place order was lifted.

Robinson explained that the Ammonia was used in the refrigeration process. The company is trying to figure out just how much of it was lost and how it will impact them going forward.

They’re in the investigation phase right now to figure out how the leak started.

When the liquid is released, it turns to vapor. Robinson said because of that, there is no real cleanup that has to be done, unlike an oil spill or gas fuel leak.

“We worked great with US food service personnel,” he said. ”They had technicians on site working with us. Our personnel did an excellent job, I’m very proud of my men.”

No injuries were reported.

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