Ammonia Leak Reported at High Liner Foods

PORTSMOUTH, NH — An employee at a food processing business assisted local firefighters in evacuating a Portsmouth building last night, according to Deputy Fire Chief James Heinz.

Firefighters were sent to High Liner Foods on Highliner Avenue in Portsmouth at just after 9:40 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2016, for a report of an anhydrous ammonia leak. An employee at the business working on a batter cooling machine noticed a leak in the ammonia gas line and evacuated the area.

“Portsmouth Fire crews evacuated the rest of the building, shut down the gas supply with the help of plant personnel, and started the ventilation process,” Heinz said in a statement.

A small hole in an industrial refrigerant line that supplies ammonia to the batter chilling machine was found, according to a report. Two employees were treated by EMTs at the scene and released. Two engines, two ambulances, a tower truck, a haz mat team leader, off-duty personnel, and command staff all responded to the call.

The company, according to its website, is the leading processor and marketer of frozen seafood for restaurants and food service distribution businesses in North America.

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