One person was killed Monday after firefighters said an ammonia gas leak occurred at a commercial business in Massachusetts. Norwood firefighters were called to the business at 140 Morgan Drive just after 11 a.m. due to an ammonia leak from a commercial building. About 100 to 200 people inside were evacuated. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office said the ammonia spill occurred when two adult males were working for an outside contractor. Norwood paramedics stabilized a man and transported him to Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was further transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for specialized treatment. Richard J. Arguin, 68, of Dighton, was pronounced dead at the scene, the district attorney’s office said. The address is home to Home Market Foods, which bills itself as “a premier specialty supplier of fresh and frozen meatballs, chicken, appetizers, and snacks to retail and food service customers.” It is located within a business park off Highway 1 Norwood. A spokesman for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office described the situation as “an unfolding scenario,” with conditions inside the building “too toxic” for anyone to enter. The district attorney’s office said reviewing video surveillance at the facility did not indicate foul play, but the investigation is ongoing. “A dangerously high level of toxic material remained in the area within the building and it took investigators several hours to gain access to the immediate area,” the district attorney’s office said. Norwood firefighters were unable to enter the building because the leak was so severe. Members of the state’s hazmat team are on site working to mitigate the spill. Home Market Foods has ammonia tanks on the property and stores frozen food in the building. Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said: “The information we have is that this is an extremely dangerous situation with respect to the fire, the hazmat mat and the response of police personnel. “We will investigate as soon as safety allows.” “The surrounding area is not dangerous and no further evacuation is required,” Norwood firefighters posted on social media earlier in the day. The victim’s name was not immediately released.
One person was killed Monday after firefighters said an ammonia gas leak occurred at a commercial business in Massachusetts.
Norwood firefighters were called to the business at 140 Morgan Drive just after 11 a.m. due to an ammonia leak from a commercial building. About 100 to 200 people inside were evacuated.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office said the ammonia spill occurred when two adult males were working for an outside contractor. Norwood paramedics stabilized a man and transported him to Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was further transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for specialized treatment.
Richard J. Arguin, 68, of Dighton, was pronounced dead at the scene, the district attorney’s office said.
The address is home to Home Market Foods, which describes itself as “a premier specialty supplier of fresh and frozen meatballs, chicken, appetizers and snacks to retail and food service customers.”
It is located in a business park off Highway 1 in Norwood.
A spokesman for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office described the situation as “an unfolding scenario,” with conditions inside the building “too toxic” for anyone to enter.
A review of video surveillance at the facility found no foul play, but the investigation is ongoing, the district attorney’s office said.
“A dangerously high level of toxic material remained in the area within the building and it took investigators several hours to gain access to the immediate area,” the district attorney’s office said.
Norwood firefighters were unable to enter the building because the leak was so severe. Members of the National Hazmat Team were on site working to minimize the spill.
Home Market Foods has ammonia tanks on the property and stores frozen food in the building.
Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said: “The information we have is that this is an extremely dangerous situation with respect to the fire, the hazmat mat and the response of police personnel. “We will conduct this investigation as soon as safety permits.”
“The surrounding area is not hazardous and no further evacuations are required,” Norwood firefighters posted on social media earlier in the day.
The victim’s name was not immediately released.