10.08.08 - Ammonia Leak, Rt. 309 & Levan Rd. North Whitehall

At 17:55 Schnecksville Station 22 was dispatched to a report of an odor investigation (ammonia) in the area of Rt. 309 & Levan Rd. in North Whitehall Twp.

Chief 2201 upon arriving confirmed the odor and determined the source was a orange tank at the cold storage facility on Route 309. He special called Tri-Clover (26).

The odor was so strong that the Pharmacy at the intersection just north of the facility caused many customers discomfort in breathing.

NewsWorking was first on the scene - watch as pumper/tanker 2221 & rescue 2241 race down Rt. 309 to the scene! Hear all the communications between the dispatchers and officers!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• North
• Whitehall
• emergency
• management
• lehigh
• county
• haz-mat
• apparatus
• responding
• enroute

[ellisfd4821son]

whats ammonia

[newsworking]

Anhydrous ammonia is widely used as a refrigerant in many industrial facilities, including cold storage facilities like this one and is considered a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health.

[MettaFireRescue]

I know I've been critical ("critical") of SOME of your work in the past, so I thought I'd write to compliment this one. Well done. The communications audio is a great addition.

[newsworking]

Thanks! Everyone has their opinion. I'd rather shoot all fire scenes and no accidents, but it was slow in this area for a while. But I do like to mix it up for my audience. Thanks Again!

[FlameTamer22]

Anhydrous ammonia is particularly nasty because it reacts with water, sweat, and the fluid inside your lungs. Fortunately, the product has an unpleasant odor and is irritating to eyes and skin at concentrations significantly lower than the point at which damaging health effects begin. The command post was established by 2201 up wind from the point of release (the facility has a windsock) and nearby residents were instructed to shelter in place by 2241's crew.

[FlameTamer22]

Station 26 was requested because Orefield Cold Storage is located within their district. Station 22 was originally dispatched because the caller's report of an odor near Levans and 309 placed the incident in District 22. At the time of this incident, Station 22 did not have an air meter capable of detecting Ammonia, but one was purchased following this incident to supplement Station 26's meter.

[bpde3117]

I'm on a Walmart HAZMAT team. We respond in full SCBA and Level A chemical suit. it is nasty stuff.

[georgepal2002]

i wuse to be a fire fighter and u had my run in with Anhydrous ammonia and i tell you it enough to take ur breath away and i stink like god know what. i may not be one now but i'm still one in my heart

[stevenkimball]

what kind of air packs does fire dept have

[MettaFireRescue]

Better slow than busy... from this end anyway.