Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Hazmat Crew Investigating Ammonia Leak At Flower Distribution Center
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to a hazardous materials situation at a flower distribution center in northwest Miami-Dade early Wednesday morning.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they received a call around 3 a.m. about a cloud of vapor coming from a warehouse building at NW 25th Street and 70th Avenue, just east of the Palmetto Expressway.
The entire area was evacuated and the 25th Street cargo ramp to Miami International Airport was shut down because it runs right over the scene.
A hazmat team entered the building and determined it was an ammonia leak. The streets around the building were shut down for hours.
For Timothy Lofton, who works in the warehouse, it was a long morning. Normally, he would be in the freezer preparing flowers for shipment. He said he rides his bike every morning to get there - he lives in Miami Gardens.
He spent Wednesday morning standing at the police perimeter watching and waiting on word from his boss.
"He forgets to call because I'm his only worker who rides a bike from Miami Gardens, yes so I'm kinda already tired just getting here he told me just sit and wait, that's all I can do," he said.
By mid-late, crews hadn't determined the source of the leak.
"It's a very slow and meticulous process to isolate the source," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Kirsten Miller. "Because of the size of the building and the ammonia, we have to move with extreme caution to keep our personnel safe."
Ammonia is a toxic chemical that can displace oxygen. Symptoms from exposure to it can range from minor irritation and burning in the nose to, in high concentrations, blindness and respiratory failure.
"They're actively working to mitigate the scene and locate the source of the ammonia leak and stop the leak," said Miller.
Until that time, no one will be allowed back into the area until it is deemed safe.