Yuma firefighters respond to ammonia leak and trailer fire
The City of Yuma Fire Department’s Special Operations Vehicle responded Sunday morning to a produce storage facility to locate an ammonia leak, while firefighters extinguished a small fire there as well.
Shortly before 6:30 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to Tanimura & Antle, located at 6179 E Gila Ridge Road, after receiving reports that smoke was coming from the business. Additional reports were received that there was an active ammonia leak at the location as well.
When firefighters arrived on scene they found smoke coming from a mechanical room. Upon making entry into the room they found there had been a small fire and that it had caused a small ammonia leak.
The fire was extinguished and the leak contained to the room. As a precaution the building was evacuated.
Ammonia is a toxic substance that can burn skin, eyes, throat and lungs, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. Ammonia burns can cause permanent blindness, lung disease or death.
Although there is no threat to the surrounding area, YFD’s Special Operations Vehicle was dispatched due to the hazardous material (ammonia) that was involved.
Firefighters were on the scene for several hours. The damage was limited to the contents of the room. The cause of the fire and ammonia leak are currently under investigation. There were no injuries reported on this incident, and no other evacuations were necessary.
Less than fifteen minutes after the fire/ammonia leak response, reports were received of a trailer fire at Araby Acres, located at 6649 E. 32nd Street #76.
When firefighters arrived to that scene they found heavy smoke and flames outside of a trailer. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it could destroy the trailer or spread to any other nearby structures.
Two adults and two children were inside at the time of the fire, which was outside of the trailer, and was confined to storage materials and portions of the exterior structure.
There were no injuries reported, and the American Red Cross was called to the scene to help the occupants who were displaced. The cause of this fire was determined to be accidental.