Chemical-Induced Explosion Emitting Ammonia Odor Prompts Pflugerville Officials To Issue Alert

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — An explosion caused when chemicals compounds combined and emitted the odor of ammonia prompted Pflugerville officials on Friday to issue an alert to residents to remain indoors.

"We have asked residents within a half a mile radius of Wiseman and Dashwood to shelter in place due to an explosion when an acid and base mixed causing an ammonia smell from neighborhood," officials wrote in a community alert at 1:36 p.m. on Friday. "Pflugerville Police Department and Fire Department are on the scene. Please steer clear of the area."

According to Austin-Travis County EMS medics, there were no injuries.

Forty-six minutes later, residents got the all-clear: "Shelter in place is removed, the site is now contained," officials wrote in an update. The chemical reaction was inadvertently sparked by work crew at a water pump station, city officials said.

"There is a water pump station near the subdivision and a chemical distribution company was working with liquid ammonia sulfate, it caused a reaction that under pressure ruptured and created a chlorine smell. We have a clean-up crew that is on their way and we are asking everyone within a half a mile to shelter in place."

No reports of any injuries were reported by city officials.

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