No injuries reported after ammonia leak at Smithfield plant in St. James

The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.
·1 min read

Oct. 9—ST. JAMES — An ammonia leak Friday at the Smithfield Foods plant in St. James resulted in no reported injuries, according to a release from the St. James Police Department.

Police, fire and ambulance crews responded to the scene at 8:47 p.m. after receiving reports of an anhydrous ammonia leak inside the plant.

Exposure levels were found to be low on the northeast side of town near the plant, the release stated. Some residents left their homes following reports of the leak, although ammonia levels reportedly weren't strong enough to force any evacuations.

The ammonia was contained after a hazmat team from Smithfield shut off the leak inside the building.

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