Ammonia leak in Sanger injures firefighter at Pitman Farms

About 800 people were evacuated from Pitman Farms in Sanger, and one firefighter suffered minor chemical burns after an ammonia leak on Monday, Sanger fire chief Greg Tarascou said.

The Fire Department responded to the area around 4:15 p.m. after a potential hazardous materials release occurred.

Several workers were exiting as firefighters arrived and were describing a strong smell of anhydrous ammonia in the air, Tarascou said.

Firefighters and Pitman Farms administrators entered the building and found a “significant” ammonia leak, Tarascou said.

With the 800 evacuated, six people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that weren’t life threatening.

The area was cleared by 6 p.m. and Pitman Farms was turned back over to administration around 7 p.m.

The cause of the leak is under investigation.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 8:08 PM with the headline "Ammonia leak in Sanger injures firefighter at Pitman Farms."