A stretch of South Highway 395 was closed and Denny’s Restaurant was evacuated Thursday night following an ammonia leak at Hermiston Foods.
The Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services responded to reports of an unknown odor in the area of Hermiston Foods around 8 p.m. Crews discovered a “significant ammonia leak” in the building with levels considered dangerous to the public.
Oregon HazMat Team 10, stationed in Hermiston, responded and its Hazardous Materials team assisted Hermiston Foods employees in stopping the leak around 10 p.m. South Highway 395 was closed off temporarily between Kellie Boulevard and Feedville Road while the leak was being contained. Denny’s patrons were evacuated and guests at the nearby Best Western Motel were ordered to shelter inside.
No one was admitted to the hospital. Hermiston Foods was being ventilated and any remaining ammonia odor in the area was not considered to be hazardous to the public.
Also responding to the scene Thursday night were the Oregon State Police, Stanfield Fire Department, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
