Plant Employees Evacuate After Chemical Leak

Shreveport fire crews were called to the the Pilgrim`s Pride poultry refrigeration plant in the 7100 block of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, after reports of an ammonia leak. This is the second leak at the plant this year. Pilgrim`s Pride representative Roy Atkinson says the plant also had a small leak back in February. Atkinson says both leaks were contained and neither posed a threat to public safety. But, the threat of being exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals brings little comfort to employees at neighboring businesses. "Never thought, never thought. I didn`t know they had ammonia there," said Sonya Fondren. Fondren works at the Plumber and Steamfitters Union Local No. 141, located just across the railroad tracks from the Pilgrim`s Pride plant. "We were just talking about trains yesterday, carrying chemicals and the problem with derailing and spills. And then this morning I hear this," said Fondren. Firefighters at the scene say a pipe connected to an ammonia tank burst, releasing the potentially hazardous liquid. "It is a 10,000 to 12,000 pound tank that contains 7,000 to 8,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. It is being released as a vapor." said Scott Wolverton with the Shreveport Fire Department. Pilgrim`s Pride employees were evacuated while firefighters worked to dilute the vapors. "As the vapors come out of the building, the water suppresses the vapor. We`ll collect the runoff," said Wolverton The Department of Environmental Quality is monitoring the cleanup process. "The water they use to control the ammonia will have to be tested. They couldn`t capture all of it. It hit the storm drains. They`re gonna test it to see that it is not harmful to sewage treatment plants," said Spokesperson Otis Randle. Randle says even if the ammonia reaches sewer treatment facilities, it will not pose a threat to area drinking water or water used for bathing. Firefighters say this is not the first time they`ve had to respond to the plant. "This plant does have a history with the Fire Department. Back in 1984 we lost a firefighter here. Anhydrous ammonia can be flammable," said Wolverton. But in this case no one was injured. Crews were able to keep the vapors under control, diffusing what could have turned into a potentially deadly situation.