15 employees taken to hospital
At about 5:15 a.m. Sunday, the Darien Fire Department responded to a reported ammonia leak inside a building at Birds Eye Foods, W8880 County Road X in the Town of Darien.
The Darien Fire Department requested mutual aid based on the established emergency operation plan for the facility.
Fifteen employees were medically transported to a nearby designated triage area and area hospitals, and 75 employees were medically evaluated and released at the scene, according to the fire department.
Darien Fire Department requested the Racine Fire Department level A hazardous materials response team to assist with the detection and remediation of the ammonia leak within the building.
“There is a situation involving a hazardous material in our plant in Darien,” said Janice Monahan, a representative from Pinnacle Foods. “The safety of our employees is our top priority and focus right now. Several employees have been taken to the hospital for medical attention. No further details are available at this time”.
The facility reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has been notified as required and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also being notified.
The leak presents no danger to area residents, and they can continue with their normal daily activities and all roads around the facility are open for travel, according to the fire department.
