The Chicago Fire Department lifted a shelter in place order for some West Elsdon residents after a "major ammonia leak" at an ice factory near Chicago's Midway International Airport Thursday resulted in street closures and health concerns, officials said during a press conference.
According to the CFD, crews responded around 4:30 a.m. Thursday to a call for a smell of ammonia at Home City Ice, formerly Lang Ice Company, located at 3600 W. 59th St.
When officials arrived, crews smelled the ammonia and after investigating issued a "level two hazmat" due to the impacts ammonia can have on the respiratory system, Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said during the update.
"Ammonia can impact your respiratory," Nance-Holt said. "You can get interior, exterior surface burns as well."
Emergency crews then went door-to-door, providing wellness checks and asking residents to remain inside and shelter in place as the smell continued to waft through the air. According to Nance-Holt, the decision was made to not evacuate the geographic area "based on the amount of people."
"There was a heavy smell of ammonia in the air," Nance-Holt said, with Hazmat Incident Cmdr. Shun Haines saying that heat and humidity made the smell difficult to dissipate.
According to authorities, fire crews were able to safely enter the factory to turn on exhaust fans and shut down valves. Outside, crews opened fire hydrants to flood streets and sewers in an effort to "help dispel the ammonia."
Shortly before 7:30 a.m., CFD reported ammonia readings had gone down, and the leak had stopped. Just before 7:40 a.m., officials issued an "all clear" for the neighborhood.
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"Our biggest goal is make sure that the community was safe when we made decisions, whether it was to shelter in place or have people evacuated," Haines said during the press conference, adding that the area is "densely populated."
According to authorities, it isn't known how the leak started, and an investigation is underway.
