A leak of anhydrous ammonia at BASF Corporation on Amnicola Highway forced the closure of main thoroughfares Tuesday morning, causing major problems for rush-hour traffic heading into Chattanooga.
The incident began around 4:30 a.m. at the plant when a small fire broke out at an anhydrous ammonia pump. Tactical Services Chief Danny Hague said the plant's fire protection system put the flames out, but plant workers detected a leak in the anhydrous ammonia system, so they called 911.
The Chattanooga Fire Department responded with several fire companies and the hazardous materials team. As a precaution, non-essential personnel at the plant were evacuated and several roads were temporarily closed, including Amnicola Highway at Highway 153 and all entrances and exits to DuPont Parkway.
Technicians with the fire department's haz-mat team suited up in their encapsulated suits -- along with members of BASF's own response team -- and together they worked to locate and stop the leak.
By 8 a.m., the haz-mat team confirmed that the leak had been shut off and the air in the surrounding area was safe to breathe. Moments later, all of the roads that had been closed were re-opened. No injuries were reported. Several businesses on Amnicola Highway were closed for several hours, and Chattanooga State was closed until 9 a.m.
BASF personnel are conducting their own investigation on what caused the fire and leak at the plant.