Staff Writer
MARS HILL – An ammonia leak at Naturally Potatoes on Wednesday, August 29, caused a bit of excitement but no injuries.
Members of the Mars Hill Fire Department and Maine Department of Environmental Protection responded to a call reporting a leak had occurred at the potato processing facility. Lee Thomas, of the DEP, reported the leak was the result of work being done on a pipe in the compressor room. He indicated pressure built up, causing a fitting to blow, releasing approximately 20 to 25 pounds of ammonia into the building.
According to Thomas, Naturally Potatoes was quick to evacuate the facility, with staff putting its HazMat training to use, following the necessary safety procedures recommended in light of such an event.
Evacuation was later determined to be unnecessary, based on the wind direction, and no injuries were sustained as the result of the leak.
Cleanup continued in the compressor room, with ammonia levels outside the facility following the incident reported to be quite low, according to Thomas.
