Evacuations after chemical released at plant

TAFT >> Authorities ordered evacuations Wednesday after a chemical release at a manufacturing plant in a rural area of California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Emergency crews responded around 10 a.m. following reports of a hazardous materials spill at Taft Manufacturing Co., the Kern County Fire Department said.

Hazardous materials teams “identified the source of the chemical leak and have stopped it,” the department later said on Twitter.

The department urged people who live or work within 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) of the facility to evacuate. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

“We’ve been very fortunate that winds have been calm,” said fire department spokesman Andrew Freeborn.

A few dozen employees were safely evacuated from the plant, he said.

The facility and a few other commercial sites are in the middle of a large expanse of agricultural fields between cities of Bakersfield and Taft.

Taft Mayor Dave Noerr told KGET-TV that the chemical acrolein was accidentally released at the plant. The chemical is used in the preparation of polyester resin and polyurethane.

An evacuation center was set up at First Baptist Church in Taft, a city of about 9,000 people about two hours north of downtown Los Angeles.

Acrolien vapor may cause eye, nasal and respiratory tract irritations.

Taft College, which is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the plant sent students home for the day.

A phone message left at Taft Manufacturing was not immediately returned.