LaOtto, Ind.-Four volunteer firefighters suffered minor chemical burns and a half-mile area downwind was evacuated when nearly 300 gallons of anhydrous ammonia were released from a nurse tank in a farm mishap May 11 in this northeast Indiana town, according to the local fire chief. “There were less than 10 homes involved, with 20 to 30 people,” Chief Jim Molargik told Green Markets. “We also had to block off a couple of state highways.” The local press reported the evacuation of a four-square mile area and that a motorist also suffered burns, but none of the injured was hospitalized. Molargik said a hose gave way as the 600-gallon tank was being towed when the hitch on the tool bar broke on the operator’s end. The four firemen were shutting off the tank when the wind turned against them. “Those guys really prevented a lot of other problems,” Molargik said. “Their burns were pretty painful, but it was nothing that a shower didn’t take care of.” He said everything was back to normal by 10 p.m.
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