ROCKINGHAM — Employees of the Perdue Farms processing plant were evacuated Friday morning due to a “major anhydrous ammonia leak,” according to Fire Chief Harold Isler.
Crews were called to the scene around 9:45 a.m. directly by the plant.
According to Isler, Perdue’s HAZMAT crew had already cleaned it up and were trying to contain it.
Approximately 50 workers were evacuated as a precaution, according to a Perdue spokesperson, who said the ammonia was used as a refrigerant.
The spokesperson also said two employees were taken to a hospital for treatement.
Isler said that the leak was contained around 11:30 a.m.
Isler said crews sprayed down the ammonia cloud to cap it off to keep it from spreading to nearby homes and businesses. A Perdue official said there was no threat to the community.
Several homes on McArthur Drive were made aware of the situation and Isler said Little Kingdom Daycare was told to keep the kids inside until the situation was under control.
The employees were lined along the sidewalk on Long Drive as crews from the Rockingham Fire Department responded to the scene.
Although it was only 75 degrees, the high humidity made it feel closer to 90.
Around 10:30 a.m., the employees were moved to the other side of the road.
Shortly after that, the scent of ammonia was in the air in the parking lot of the license plate office.
At least one Perdue tractor-trailer and several other vehicles trying to turn into the plant were denied entry during the evacuation.
