Ammonia leak in NE Atlanta contained after brief shelter-in-place order

A “major ammonia leak” in northeast Atlanta on Monday afternoon led officials to issue shelter-in-place orders for the area before fire crews contained the leak about an hour later.

The leak began at 2:30 p.m. when workers at a defunct frozen food warehouse in the Edgewood neighborhood were removing large quantities of ammonia formerly used for refrigeration, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue officials. About eight workers were inside the building near the intersection of LaFrance Street and Mayson Avenue when the malfunction took place, but all were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Atlanta Fire Rescue shut down parts of DeKalb Avenue and multiple blocks in the area as they worked to contain the leak. Traffic was halted at a couple of busy intersections and streets bracketing the area, which is near the Edgewood-Candler Park MARTA station. Fire crews blocked off DeKalb Avenue and Oakdale Road to the west, while Arizona Avenue to the east also was closed.

About one hour later, as the leak remained active, the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency issued an order for residents to shelter in place in several neighborhoods, including parts of Edgewood, Kirkwood, Candler Park and Lake Claire. The widely distributed warning message instructed neighbors to stay inside, close all windows and doors and turn off their HVAC systems.

At 4:30 p.m., officials announced that the leak had been contained and the orders to shelter in place were lifted. The bustling area’s busy roads were reopened, as well.

Ammonia gas is a toxic substance that can be fatal if too much is inhaled, according to the CDC.

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Credit: Steve Schaefer

The workers in the former Schwan’s frozen food facility were in the process of removing about 40,000 pounds of ammonia from the site, Channel 2 Action News reported. They had completed about 14% of the removal process before the valve malfunctioned and caused the hazardous leak. The distinct odor of ammonia faded throughout the afternoon but could still be detected in the neighborhood into the evening.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.