Ammonia leak at SW Side business prompts Chicago Fire Department hazmat response
CFD gives all-clear after residents were told to shelter in place
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Fire Department has given an all clear after an ammonia leak at a business in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood Thursday morning.
Fire crews said they were safely able to get inside Home City Ice and shut off the valve.
"We don't actually know exactly how it started," CFD Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said. "We got the call so that's an investigation that will have to be conducted not by us, but by another agency 26:55
Fire officials said someone called 911 after a strong smell of ammonia at around 4:30 a.m. in the 3600-block of West 59th Street.
Fire crews at a firehouse directly across the street also smelled it in the air, arriving quickly as a plume of ammonia was visibly, billowing from the plant.
Chopper 7 was above the scene as the fire department declared a level two hazmat response and closed streets for several blocks.
Area residents were told to shelter in place.
"Based on the amount of people in this geographic area, we decided not to evacuate people, for them to shelter in place, go door to door and actually see how residents were doing with OEMC we made sure that we checked on all residents, have them shut their windows and everything," Nance-Holt said.
The business called Home City Ice" produces cubed and block ice. It was formerly known as Lang Ice. No one inside the plant was hurt.
"The company evacuated the building themselves," CFD Incident Commander Chief Shun T. Haynes. "They self evacuated prior to our arrival."
"It's very surprising," 22nd District State Rep, Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar said.
"We have never had an incident like this before especially with that company. That company has been here for over 30 years. I know there has been conversations about change of hands in terms of ownership but we've never had an incident like this."
The weather on one of the hottest days of the year playing a role in the danger due to high humidity levels, ammonia can cause severe eye and throat irritation, breathing problems and burns.
There have been no reports of any injuries in the area and some residents were not even aware of the leak.
"I'm amazed," neighbor Rogelio Mendez said. "I didn't even know what was going on. I thought it was a fire, so I'm just waking up."
There is an investigation underway to pinpoint the cause. ABC7 has reached out to Home City Ice for comment and has not heard back.
