Finding Beach Park Chemical Spill Cause Could Take Days Or Weeks

BEACH PARK, IL — The Lake County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning sheriff's detectives and members of the National Transportation Safety Board will continue working together and investigate the dangerous chemical leak that began Thursday morning in Beach Park. According to the Daily Herald, it could take days or weeks for authorities to determine the cause of the anhydrous ammonia leak that created a dangerous chemical cloud in the area of Green Bay Road and 29th Street.

Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Chris Covelli said criminal charges are possible for those involved in causing the leak, depending on whether traffic infractions, negligence, or a violation of agricultural laws show up in the investigation. An Illinois State Police inspector is investigating the tractor and trailer that hauled the chemical in two, 2-ton "nurse" tanks, the Daily Herald reported, adding that Covelli said the sheriff's office is also investigating.

"Our Deputies and Detectives will be working with other area officials to determine what happened during this incident," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg shared in a statement on Facebook. "We appreciate the community’s support during the event today, and the community’s patience during the investigation.”

Police said seven of the 37 people transported to area hospitals were in critical, but stable condition, including one firefighter. A total of 11 firefighters and three police officers were transported to the hospital.

The sheriff's office warned the public to not get close to this area, and asked residents in a one-mile radius to stay indoors and keep air conditioning and heating off. As of around 11 a.m., the shelter-in-placed had been lifted, however.

The hazardous material spill occurred around 4:30 a.m. Thursday when a truck towing a pair of ammonia containers began leaking while driving down Green Bay Road, according the sheriff's office. It did not appear there was a collision.

Several victims were rescued at the scene by the first arriving firefighters.

About two dozen local fire and police agencies were on scene, according to Lake County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Chris Covelli.

"This is a very dangerous chemical that can cause unconsciousness and, in a worst case scenario, death," Covelli said, noting the two deputies were in serious condition.

Dr. Robert Cohen, professor of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said inhalation of anhydrous ammonia can cause permanent lung damage.

“Anhydrous ammonia is a highly reactive chemical that is extremely irritating to the mucous membranes," Cohen said. "It is a severe irritant to eyes, nose, mouth and throat, and causes a burning sensation. It can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and burns of the mouth, throat and stomach. It can cause swelling and irritation of the larynx (voice box) and result in swelling, and may make it difficult to breathe. If it is inhaled deeply into the lungs, it can damage the large airways, causing a severe trachea bronchitis. It can also cause significant permanent lung damage if enough of the vapor is inhaled."

Lake Forest Fire Department Division Chief Mike Gallo said the leak was contained by around 7:40 a.m. after a tractor-trailer's two one-ton containers of anhydrous ammonia were emptied.

"The primary concern is inhalation," Gallo said. "The people that were transported or at least seen by EMS were having inhalation or breathing issues."

Gallo said area residents began calling 911, and soon the Beach Park Fire Department ran out of resources to send to the scene and called ambulances from other communities. About 20 ambulances were staging at a nearby middle school to assist.

Cleanup was expected to take several hours as emergency personnel monitor the plume and wait for it to dissipate, Gallo said. School closures included Beach Park School District 3, as well as Zion-Benton High School and Prairie Trail School in Wadsworth.

Due to a chemical spill that happened recently, All Beach Park School District #3 schools will be closed today, April 25th, for the safety or our students and staff. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have on your family.
— BPD3 (@BPD3District) April 25, 2019

Often used by farmers as fertilizer or as an industrial refrigerant, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says anhydrous ammonia is "a colorless gas with pungent, suffocating fumes."

"When handled improperly, anhydrous ammonia can be immediately dangerous to life or health," the CDC said. "As liquid anhydrous ammonia is released from its container into the air, it expands rapidly, forming a large cloud that acts like a heavier-than-air gas for a period of time."

Symptoms of anhydrous ammonia exposure include burns, blisters, eye, nose and throat irritation, breathing difficulty, wheezing, or chest pain, the CDC added.

Around 9 a.m., the sheriff's office said the request to shelter in place remained in effect. Emergency personnel were checking on residents door-to-door to make sure they are safe and not in medical distress.

UPDATE: Around 10 a.m., the Lake County Sheriff's Office announced the shelter-in-place request was officially lifted. Door-to-door checks were expected to continue for the next one to two hours.

Patch will continue updating this story as new information comes in.