VIDEO: Hazmat operations for anhydrous ammonia leak at ITW Buildex on Bryn Mawr Avenue in Itasca.
Itasca police and firefighters responded about 9:21 AM Monday to a report of a chemical leak at ITW Buildex 1349 West Bryn Mawr Avenue Itasca, IL. Firefighters confirmed that they had an active anhydrous ammonia leak, and evacuated the surrounding areas, and one block north of the ITW Buildex building on both sides of District Drive north to Ardmore.
An emergency siren activation in the building was used to evacuate employees from the approximately 80,000 square foot commercial building.
Itasca Deputy Chief John Radzinski reported that firefighters immediately went to work to resolve the leak while activating a MABAS Box Alarm and taking offensive operations to suppress vapors and stop the leak.
Alta Equipment Company at 625 District Dr, just to the east of the ITW Buildex building was unable to move equipment in and out of their facility for at least three hours because District Avenue was blocked with fire equipment. Alta Equipment Company’s wide variety of products including forklifts, wheel loaders, excavators, pavers, and materials handling products, were unable to move in and out of their commercial building. Employees at Alta provided hospitality for firefighters needing to use their facilities.
Map of area of chemical leak in Itasca …
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