HazMat Crews Contain Chemical Leak At Aerojet

Emergency crews responded last night to a report of a chemical leak at Aerojet in Rancho Cordova. 

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District says the leak was coming from a cylinder at AMPAC Fine Chemicals, a company on the Aerojet campus. Captain Michelle Eidam is with Sac Metro Fire. She says even though the cylinder was located in a remote part of the Aerojet grounds, all workers were evacuated.

"There was a huge law enforcement contingent that was ready if there was a call made and we needed to shelter in place," says Eidam. "They were prepared. None of that needed to happen. No other evacuations off sight, even businesses right outside of the Aerojet campus did not have to evacuate or shelter in place."

She says hazardous materials crews were not able to cap the leak. So they moved the cylinder by truck to an isolated building.

"The leak is still occurring but it's contained within this building," says Eidam. "It is not leaking out anymore. The next course of action is to put this cylinder into a secure container, transport it off sight to be destroyed."

She says the forklift and truck used to move the cylinder will be decontaminated. 

The leaking chemical - hydrogen bromide - can cause severe irritation to the respiratory system.