A chemical vapor leak near Holyoke injured one man this morning and caused a few homes outside the town to be evacuated.
The incident happened about 10 a.m. at the Grainland Cooperative, an agricultural chemical storage facility, about a mile outside of the Eastern Plains town, said Randy Schafer, the Phillips County emergency manager.
The injured man was taken to Holyoke Hospital. Details on his condition were not available.
Officials believe about 3 percent of a 30,000 gallon tank storing anhydrous ammonia leaked.
The Holyoke Fire Department, with the help of surrounding fire departments, worked on containing the leak. Traffic in the area was rerouted as a safety precaution to keep people away from the area where the gas was wafting. Colorado Highway 23 and Phillips County Road 45 were closed by the incident.
A Colorado State Patrol hazardous materials team was called in to help, said Sgt. Michael Baker, a state patrol spokesman.
The tank holding the chemical iced over as the gas escaped, stopping the leak, Baker said. Emergency responders at the scene are taking steps to permanently contain the leak.
Rain in the area helped keep the gas down; winds blowing out of the north helped steer the chemical away from town.
Skin contact with the gas can cause burns, Schafer said, and ingestion of the vapor can cause lung damage.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
