SANFORD, Maine — Emergency crews in Sanford responded to a hazmat situation Thursday at an ice-manufacturing facility.
The Sanford Fire Department and the York County Emergency Management Agency responded to a report around 8:30 a.m. about a possible visual ammonia leak at Arctic Glacier after an odor was detected.
Ammonia is a clear, colorless gas with a strong and distinct odor. However, it releases a vapor that's not unlike the exhaust from a vehicle, so people in the building were able to see the leak in addition to the smell.
Fire Chief Scott Susi told NEWS CENTER Maine that someone inside was able to quickly get video footage of the leak to share with responders and before they evacuated the building. That video apparently helped responding fire crews confirm the location of the high-pressure ammonia leak in a pump valve.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to high levels of ammonia can be irritating to skin, lungs, throat, and eyes, but very high levels of ammonia can cause lung damage or even be fatal.
Responding crews dressed in full bubble hazmat suits and were able to seal the leak and shut down the equipment. Susi said the valve that caused the leak will need to be repaired or replaced.
Companies that use a commercial refrigerant in food processing, produce ice, or are near cold storage and de-icing operations are among industries in which workers are at risk of ammonia exposure, according to the CDC.
No injuries were reported, and the fire chief said the response was "perfectly executed."
Crews cleared the scene around 11:30 a.m.