Chemical leak, fire interrupt production in two industries

By Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com

June 20, 2007 09:24 pm

— A chemical leak at one industry and a fire at a second manufacturing plant sent workers scurrying outside and interrupted production Tuesday morning. One firefighter was injured when a stack of wooden pallets loaded with products waiting to be shipped fell on him.
The first alarm was received at 7:45 a.m. when firefighters were dispatched to Flowers Snack of Tennessee on North Main St. where a leak of anhydrous ammonia was reported in a refrigeration area of the plant, according to Crossville Fire Chief Mike Turner.
The plant was immediately evacuated and although the leak was stopped by the closing of a valve, firefighters donned hazardous materials gear to enter the enclosed area where the leak was reported. Firefighters then vented the area before workers were allowed back to work.
Firefighters remained on the scene for over two and a half hours.
Before firemen could clear that call, they were dispatched at 9:15 a.m. to Delbar Products' facility on Oaklawn Rd., Turner said.
"I can't say what caused that fire. It might have been accidental, I don't know," said Turner. He added, "There was no reason why a fire should have started in there."
The fire was discovered in an enclosed shipping area where wooden pallets were placed before being loaded onto trucks for distribution, Turner noted.
"The plant's sprinkler system did the job," Turner added. "The sprinklers kept it from spreading from the shipping area. It could have been a lot worse."
Incident Commander Chris South was taken by ambulance to Cumberland Medical Center after a tall stack of pallets loaded with mirrors gave way and fell on him. Paramedic and firefighter Ricky Parker was standing nearby and rushed to South's aid. He was treated in Cumberland Medical Center's emergency room where he was treated and later released.

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