An ammonia leak Wednesday at the Auburndale Coca-Cola facility led to the evacuation of workers and nearby residents were told to shelter in place.
There were no reports of serious injuries, according to the Auburndale Fire Department.
Firefighters received a call for a hazardous material spill at 10:13 a.m. from inside the Coca-Cola plant at 705 S. Main St., said AFD Deputy Chief David Cash.
When they arrived, there was liquid ammonia leaking inside the building, he said. The source of the leak was a valve currently under maintenance by a contractor.
Due to high winds at that time in the city, the ammonia vapor was reported by residents from at least a half mile from the plant.
Cash said as many as nine people initially complained of feeling sick due to airborne ammonia, but all refused treatment from paramedics.
Up to 50 first responders from multiple agencies converged at the scene and began knocking on doors along Henry Road, Lincoln Court and Kennedy Court and advised people to stay inside, Cash said.
Auburndale police officers and Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted in the effort to alert neighbors in about 20 nearby homes and apartments.
The Polk County Fire Rescue HazMat team entered the Coca-Cola building after speaking with the contractor about the valve and donning full protective gear. In all, the value leaked for up to 90 minutes from a 20,000 gallon tank of ammonia but by 12:15 p.m. the value was replaced and the leak stopped.
The HazMat team then started cleanup procedures and a decontamination station was set up by fire crews to wash off their suits.
Cash said at least 10,000 pounds of ammonia had leaked before the tank was capped with a new valve. He credited the rapid evacuation of workers within minutes of the valve leaking at the Coca-Cola plant and assistance from other agencies for preventing any serious injuries at the scene.
The Coca-Cola facility in Auburndale facility produces Simply Juice products, Powerade and BodyArmor beverages.
“Our first priority is always the safety of our people and nearby residents,” said Anna Moore, spokeswoman for Coca-Cola, in an email statement. “Fortunately, there were no serious injuries to anyone at the facility or the nearby neighborhoods, and the leak was contained as quickly as possible.”
“A few electrical employees working nearby did seek medical attention for minor eye and throat irritations,” she added. “We apologize to the workers and area residents for the inconvenience this may have caused them, and we greatly appreciate the quick and effective response from the city and county emergency services teams.”