2 million gallons of liquid fertilizer spills in Chesapeake

Associated Press
Published: November 13, 2008

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - A storage tank containing 2 million gallons of liquid fertilizer collapsed Wednesday, injuring two and dousing six workers, a fire official said.

The fertilizer, which is used in farming, is not a health hazard unless ingested, Fire Capt. Steve Johnson said.

Six workers who were splattered by the fertilizer - an ammonium nitrate solution - were hosed down at the scene, he said. A resident who was exposed to the spill also was washed down.

“They’re not complaining of any problems,” Johnson said.

The two workers who were taken to the hospital were treated for injuries, possibly serious and likely related to the collapse of the tank and not the spill.

The spill occurred at Allied Terminals, which is located in an industrial part of the city near the south branch of the Elizabeth River. The cause of the tank’s collapse is not known, Johnson said.

Residents who could not return to their homes because of the mess were put up in a temporary shelter, he said.

Crews were using vacuum trucks and absorbent materials to contain and clean up the spill.