Ammonia leak forces residents to stay inside their homes in Adams County
Posted 7:32 PM, August 13, 2016, by Jaime Garland, Updated at 07:40pm, August 13, 2016
NEW OXFORD, Pa.-- An ammonia leak at a turkey processing plant in Adams County forced residents in New Oxford to seek shelter for about an hour on Saturday evening.
The leak was reported at Plainville Farms on the 300-block of South Water Street around 5:00 p.m. Residents in the borough of New Oxford and certain parts of Hamilton and Oxford Townships were told to shelter in place immediately.
Officials say employees at the plant were sent home; no injuries were reported.
The cause of the leak was determined to be a malfunctioning relief valve on the roof of the building. A company official tells FOX43 the valve was compromised due to the extreme heat.
Firefighters say the leak was controlled at 6:49 p.m. and the shelter in place order was lifted.
Units from United Hook & Ladder Co #33 were assisted by Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services, Biglerville Fire Co., Adams Regional Emergency Medical Services, and Local & Adams County Emergency Management.
Plainville Farms remained closed Saturday night. Full operations are scheduled to resume Monday morning.
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:
NEW OXFORD, Pa.-- A shelter in place order, that was issued for people living in the borough of New Oxford in Adams County, has now been lifted.
The order was given around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, after reports of a possible ammonia leak at Plainville Farms on South Water Street.
Residents in the borough, as well as those living within a one-mile radius of the town square, in Hamilton and Oxford Townships, were urged to stay inside.
At this point, officials say it is now safe to go outside, open windows and turn on any external air intakes. If you smell any type of gas though, you are asked to call 911.
Fire and other emergency crews are still on the scene investigating the leak.
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A Turkey Plant Ammonia Leak
Thursday, August 18, 2016 @ 05:08 PM gHale
A malfunctioning relief valve caused an ammonia leak at a turkey plant in Adams County, PA, which led emergency responders to issue a shelter in place notice Saturday for three municipalities.
The shelter in place call went into effect at 5:45 p.m. and lasted for an hour. The notice affected New Oxford, Oxford Township and Hamilton Township.
The leak came from a turkey plant, fire officials said. The leak came from a relief valve from the roof of the building, according to the release.
The leak has been blamed on recent high temperatures. The gas leaked from the refrigeration system at Plainville Farms in New Oxford.
There were no injuries in the incident.