Chemical Spill Forces 3,500 to Evacuate Town
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On the eve of Morro Bay’s three-day Harbor Festival, a large area of the picturesque town was evacuated as emergency crews cleaned up a 300-gallon anhydrous ammonia leak from a refrigeration unit at an old fish processing plant.
About 3,500 residents, students, workers and tourists left the Embarcadero district about 7 a.m. Thursday, officials said.
No one was hurt in the spill, which occurred when heavy equipment punctured the refrigeration unit. By afternoon, fire officials had diverted the chemicals into the sewer system and reopened the downtown district.
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