SALINA, Kan. (AP) — The company that owns a Salina manufacturing plant where a chemical incident prompted an evacuation says no chemicals leaked or spilled.
Homes and businesses within a half-mile of the McShares Inc. plant were evacuated for about two hours Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
McShares said in a statement the evacuations of its Research Products plant and surrounding areas were strictly precautionary. It continues to investigate the incident.
Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams said a tank that was about one-quarter full of benzoyl peroxide heated up, creating a plume that vented out of the smoke stack at Research Products, a division of McShares.
The plant makes food additives and mixes of vitamins and minerals that are added to wheat, rice and corn flours and cereals.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — The company that owns a Salina manufacturing plant where a chemical incident prompted an evacuation says no chemicals leaked or spilled.
Homes and businesses within a half-mile of the McShares Inc. plant were evacuated for about two hours Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
McShares said in a statement the evacuations of its Research Products plant and surrounding areas were strictly precautionary. It continues to investigate the incident.
Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams said a tank that was about one-quarter full of benzoyl peroxide heated up, creating a plume that vented out of the smoke stack at Research Products, a division of McShares.
The plant makes food additives and mixes of vitamins and minerals that are added to wheat, rice and corn flours and cereals.
SALINE COUNTY-Emergency Management officials have allowed residents are to return to their homes and businesses following a bad chemical reaction at McShares Inc., located at 1835 E. North Street in Salina.
Just after 3p.m., a bad chemical reaction occurred when the facility was mixing Hydrogen Peroxide, Benzoyl Chloride, and Azelaic Acid, according to Hannah Stambaugh, Saline County Emergency Management Director.
The reaction caused a gas cloud that forced the evacuation of the plant as well as residents and businesses within a half mile radius of the facility.
First responders were still on scene just after 6p.m., concluding their operations, according to Stambaugh.
Residents were still being asked to stay clear the facility.
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SALINE COUNTY -First responders are currently working an incident that involved a bad chemical reaction at McShares, 1835 E. North Street in Salina, according to a social media report from the city.
Officials are asking locations within a one half mile radius to evacuate the area until the incident can be contained.
Road closures currently include Old Highway 40 and N. Marymount Road and E. North St. at Ohio
McShares works to provide millers and bakers the key ingredients they need to make the most nutritional grains possible, according to the company web site.