SIDNEY, Ohio - Reports of a chemical leak at the water treatment plant in Sidney prompted a shelter-in-place order for some nearby residents late Friday night. The leak at the plant, located at 880 E. Court Street, just east of downtown, was reported shortly after 11 o'clock.
When crews arrived at the plant, they noticed what they believed to be a plume in the area. Additional crews, including hazmat units from Shelby and Miami Counties, were requested. Residents within a half-mile radius of the scene received push notifications on their phones instructing them to stay inside, close windows and doors, and turn off their HVAC systems until it was deemed safe.
According to Sidney Fire Department Assistant Chief Jason Truesdale, chlorine gas was believed to be leaking, which can cause serious medical issues. "It [chlorine gas] usually sits down low, so we wanted to make sure we had the right PPE to handle the situation," Truesdale said. "It's an inhalation hazard; it's corrosive, so it can affect your airway, so we just told everyone to shelter in place."
Truesdale said Friday night's weather helped the situation: "Luckily, we had a calm night, no wind, and everything was pretty well contained in the facility." He added that there wasn't actually a plume, and he was unsure what crews actually saw upon their arrival; however, there was a small leak inside the facility. "It all stayed in-house."
It was determined that the leak occurred when an employee was transferring an empty chlorine tank for a new one. That employee, who was the only person inside at the time, was able to evacuate and was not hurt. A hazmat team was sent inside to assess the leak. "We sent one crew in for recon to check the tanks, to see if there was any leaking chlorine, and to mitigate the situation," Said Truesdale. "Luckily, the parts per million were within acceptable range once they got in there, so the leak actually took care of itself."
Fire and hazmat crews were at this same plant for a similar situation about a year ago, according to Truesdale. That leak was caused by a bleeder valve that was stuck open. The plant draws water from the Great Miami River and nearby wells, treats it, and then distributes it to the citizens of Sidney for drinking and other uses.
The all-clear was given about 1 am, and the shelter-in-place order was then lifted. Emergency and hazmat crews from Sidney, Lockington, Anna, and Port Jefferson in Shelby County, as well as Miami County hazmat crews from Piqua, Pleasant Hill, Tipp City, and West Milton, responded to the scene. The Sidney Police Department provided traffic control in the area. There were no injuries reported, and crews cleared the scene after about two hours.
