Paullina, Iowa — There were a few tense moments near Paullina on Wednesday morning, due to a chemical release, and four agencies responded to the scene.
Paullina Fire Department officials tell us that shortly before 9:00 a.m., their department and Paullina Ambulance Service were dispatched to the intersection of 470th Street and Starling Avenue, about five miles east of Paullina, due to an anhydrous ammonia leak.
When they got there, emergency responders saw a small cloud of anhydrous ammonia near the toolbar at the rear of the tractor. They tell us firefighters donned self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) and approached the area with a charged hose line. They applied water to the ground and the toolbar, successfully controlling the hazardous area in approximately 20 minutes, allowing for further investigation into the cause of the leak.
Paullina Firefighter Ryan Harper says the investigation revealed that an equipment malfunction had caused the release of anhydrous ammonia. For precautionary measures, the operator of the equipment applying the ammonia was evaluated by ambulance personnel to ensure he had no health concerns.
He says there were no evacuations or road blockages necessary due to the limited size of the hazardous area upon arrival. Harper tells us they were finished at about 9:40 a.m.
Paullina fire and ambulance responders were assisted by AgState personnel and the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office.
KIWA Staff Photo
