August 25, 2015 4:59 AM
SANTA FE SPRINGS (CBSLA.com) —
HazMat crews responded to a gas leak on Tuesday located in an industrial area in Santa Fe Springs.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m., an employee alerted authorities of a 40,000 pound liquid carbon dioxide tanker that was leaking in the 9800 block of Jordan Circle near McCann Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Upon their arrival to Airgas Dry Ice, Inc., firefighters located a low white cloud on the ground.
The Whittier Police Department was then called to assist at the scene, and a HazMat response subsequently occurred.
Paramedics transported one employee with non-life threatening injuries.
“The immediate concern was to secure the area and ensure the safety of our associates at the facility as well as the safety of our community,” explained Sarah Boxler, corporate communications manager for Airgas, Inc. “We evacuated our associates as a precaution and there is no impact to the surrounding community.”
A preliminary investigation revealed the leak occurred when the tanker truck was transferring the product to a connected storage tank.
Shortly after 4 a.m., crews were able to cap the leak and employees were let back into the building.
CBS2’s Jasmine Viel clarified that carbon dioxide is non-toxic chemical, however, it can kill a person if they are in a confined space.
The cause of the release remains under investigation.