Northwood, Iowa — A smoky agricultural chemical fire, first thought to involve sulfuric acid, caused evacuation of this small Iowa town of approximately 2,000 residents for the biggest part of the day Thursday, Feb. 20. According to emergency management authorities, most of those affected were transported by buses to the town of Kensett, about six miles south on Highway 65 after word went out that a fire erupted in one of the hangers at Northwood Municipal Airport where fertilizers and other chemicals were stored and possibly mixed for crop dusting. The business was identified as Northland Ag Products. At least four people went to the hospital complaining of breathing problems, but there were no reports of serious injury. Officials initially indicated that the chemicals might include sulfuric acid; however, that proved not to be the case. Sgt. Emergency Management Director Ray Huftalin told Green Markets, "There was no acid involved. It was mainly an insecticide." But the chemicals that were involved did cause heavy smoke. The Worth County Emergency Management treated the fire as "a dangerous situation." As conditions improved in the afternoon, residents were allowed back into their homes.
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