Ammonia Leak At Pilgrim’s Pride Results In Injuries

CANTON, GA — Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services and Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a Hazmat incident at Pilgrim’s Pride processing plant, 654 Univeter Road in Canton, just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Cherokee County firefighters and members of the Cherokee County Haz-Mat Team arrived on scene to find a broken ammonia pipe. A little more than 40 employees ran outside to the back of the building where the leak happened until help arrived. Three of the employees were taken to hospitals to be evaluated for mild to severe injuries.

The northbound lanes of I-575 were closed between exit 11 at Sixes Road and exit 16 at Hickory Flat Road due to the hazmat situation. Univeter Road from Highway 5 to Chattin Drive was also shut down. No homes or other businesses’ other than Pilgrim’s Pride were evacuated.

Firefighters and hazmat members were able to contain the leak. Cherokee County 911 received calls from residents and businesses concerned about the smell of ammonia in the area, however, no one was transported to the hospital. Firefighters began ventilating the area at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.