Massive ammonia leak prompts evacuation in Oakfield

A massive ammonia leak at Allens, Inc., at 46 Stevens St. in Oakfield, is prompting fire officials to call for the immediate evacuation of employees and residents.

People in the area of Webber Avenue and Stevens Street are to be directed to Oakfield-Elba Townline Road, Route 262.

Responding are: Bergen, East Pembroke, Oakfield, Alabama and Elba fire departments, including units for fire police and standby.

Officials are trying to do a "reverse 9-1-1" call to all residents in the area to order their evacuation.

The command post is staging from the railroad tracks across the street from the Oakfield Hotel.

Allens is a frozen-food processing plant. The incident was called in by an employee who noticed the strong odor of ammonia. The private company, based in Shiloam, Ark., is reported to have up to 200 employees during peak season. There were 65 employees working at the time the leak occurred.

UPDATE (12:48 p.m.): A haz-mat team is setting up. The leak is in the main engine room at the processing plant. Mercy EMS units are responding also.

UPDATE (1:06 p.m.): Until the leak is secured, they are also evacuating a nearby Little League game. There's a slight ammonia odor at the ball field.

UPDATE (1:10 p.m.): Fire officials are notifying the Department of Environmental Conservation and are calling for additional haz-mat crews.

UPDATE (1:15 p.m.): East Shelby Fire Department is called in for standby. A "public relations officer" is requested.

UPDATE (1:20 p.m.): Fire official says "We are trying to coordinate people to get evacuated out of the park and they need to move, in an orderly fashion, no need to get excited." They are pretty inundated there. All fire police in the area are called in. There's only a slight odor at the Little League field and there's a good breeze in the area, so the firefighters aren't too worried.

UPDATE (1:30 p.m.): The low points of the southern part of the Village of Oakfield have successfully been evacuated.

UPDATE (1:35 p.m.): A tanker is called to the north side of the building, apparently the hose/water hydrants were not effective. The Ladies' Auxiliary is asked to bring water and Gatorade to the scene for the crews. The Monroe County haz-mat team has been dispatched to the scene.

UPDATE (1:40 p.m.): Fire officials call for firefighters to be "packed up and ready to go in" to the building. Officials are notified that two ATV riders are on the railroad tracks heading eastbound to the area. Firefighters are asked to "roam around the village to see if any pockets (of ammonia) are out there."

UPDATE (1:45 p.m.): Callers are swamping the Oakfield Fire Hall and asking where they should go. The fire officials said all of Main Street in the Village of Oakfield is being shut down completely, including to pedestrians. People are asked to go the "parade route" just as it was for Memorial Day. They should go the Oakfield-Elba Townline Road, west to South Pearl Street, then turn right (north) to the command post on South Pearl Street. People can also go to Malby then Fisher roads. Any and every firefighter that has any availability is called to assist with putting up barricades and enforcing them along Main Street. Another "recon" team is called into the building. As for evacuees, "All I'm lettin' people do is go out of town east," says a fire policeman on scene. People in cars should keep the windows up. Entry to the village, primarily Route 63 south, is being banned.

UPDATE (1:55 p.m.): The ammonia odor is still heavy inside the building. They have made "no progress." The toxic fumes are still being put into the atmosphere via exhaust fans. Fire police are requested to Cole and Main streets and to Fisher and Route 63.

UPDATE (2:03 p.m.): They are running out, or are out, of spare batteries. Some firefighters are suffering from heat exhaustion and need to be taken to "rehab" for relief. Also, the ammonia odor is very strong at ground zero, Webber and Stevens, and the firefighters need to be relieved to get fresh air. Fire police are not on scene at Webber and Stevens, but are requested.

UPDATE (2:06 p.m.): Alabama Fire Department has spare batteries and they are going to provide them. People at the scene are working to provide the firefighters with water and Gatorade, but need more and they have no ice. No progress on the ammonia leak. "No results still."

UPDATE (2:10 p.m.): Progress at last! The main valves have been successfully shut down. A refrigeration company has been called to the scene to provide much needed water and provisions for the firefighters.

UPDATE (2:25 p.m.): A mother is arguing with fire police at North Pearl and Malby roads. She wants to go inside the blockade to retrieve her children, but the fire police are not letting her inside. A chief is on his way to straighten out the issue. No one knows just where her children are however. Media converged on the area are told to set up inside the Oakfield Fire Hall. The Monroe County haz-mat team has arrived and is going to the Allens building.

UPDATE (2:45 p.m.): The ammonia leak is shut down and the scene at Allens, Inc., is secure.

UPDATE (2:49 p.m.): Although the leak is shut down, fire crews at the scene are not being allowed to roll up their hoses and break down their operations as a precaution for the time being. It is not yet known when residents will be allowed back into the village.

UPDATE (3:01 p.m.): Allen's, Inc., employees have reported that the site of the leak, which has been shut off, has been isolated. A firefighter on scene is being taken to the hospital for dehydration.

UPDATE (3:05 p.m.): A second Haz Mat team from Monroe County has arrived and will be going around the village with monitoring devices to determine if any ammonia vapors remain.

UPDATE (3:10 p.m.): All roads have re-opened and all residents may return home. Apparently, that was not relayed to many of the fire police, some of whom were unsure what the directives were.

UPDATE (3:18 p.m.): The refrigeration truck called in at 2:10 p.m. has finally arrived so the firefighters can get some water, Gatorade, ice and food.

UPDATE (3:22 p.m.): A second person at the scene has succumbed to heat exhaustion and dehydration and is being transported to the hospital.

UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): Some units are going back in service and any remaining commotion at this point is probably from trying to get everything back to normal. There have been no reports of anyone seriously injured from the ammonia fumes.