Ammonia leak causes Wheeling pizza factory evacuation

An ammonia leak caused the evacuation of a pizza factory in Wheeling Saturday and three people were treated for minor health concerns, fire officials said.

The Village of Wheeling Fire Department at 3:30 p.m. was called to Richelieu Foods, 120 W. Palatine Rd., where they found about 70 employees outside the building, according to a news release from the fire department. Three people were taken to local hospitals afterward.

A problem with the piping system was found to be the source of the leak, according to Wheeling Fire Department shift commander Mark Menzel. The leak was identified as anhydrous ammonia, which is used for refrigerating food, according to the release.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas that can cause breathing difficulties, burns and blisters, and is fatal if breathed in high concentrations. The CDC says the substance is used as a fertilizer and an industrial refrigerant.

The fire department shut down the ammonia system, but did not fix the problem with the pipes. That is a matter for the building contractor to handle, Menzel said.

Employees went back inside the building after the fire department shut down the ammonia system, but it is not known whether they were able to return to work, Menzel said.

Fire crews also ventilated the 500,000 square-foot factory, which makes and freezes pizza.

Calls to Richelieu Foods Sunday were not immediately returned. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any product had to be disposed of as a result of contact with the hazardous leak.

In 2019, anhydrous ammonia became airborne, creating a toxic plume that led to the evacuation of dozens of homes in Beach Park. At least 37 people had to be treated at area hospitals, with seven of them in critical condition.

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