Golden Valley Firefighters Handle Hazardous Materials Release

PHOTO:
A plume of Ammonia gas can be seen escaping from a leak at the Griffith Energy Plant while Firefighters begin to make entry.

NARRATIVE:
Golden Valley Fire firefighters responded to an Ammonia leak at the Griffith Energy Plant in the Golden Valley Industrial corridor near Mile-Post 37 on Hwy-40 Sunday June 30th in the evening at 6:30 pm.  Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue reported that, according to Griffith Energy officials, a nipple on a half-inch pipe for an Ammonia tank failed causing the moderate release of approximately 5,200 pounds, or 6,000 gallons of Ammonia into the atmosphere.  The release initiated the evacuation of the Griffith Plant as well as the precautionary notification of the Arizona State Prison, Praxair and ADOT of the incident should there have been a catastrophic release of ammonia according to Chief O’Donohue.  O’Donohue reported Golden Valley Fire, Kingman Fire, DPS and Griffith Energy Hazardous Materials Teams made entry into the Ammonia plume created by the leak.  MCSO assigned a sergeant, who assisted with plume monitoring around the plant.  O’Donohue stated hazardous materials operations are slow and deliberate to assure the safety of both firefighters and citizens.  O’Donohue stressed, while precautionary measures were put in place, at no time was the public in danger because the Ammonia plume was kept on site.  The hazard was eliminated just before 9:00 pm.