Latest news with #AustinPowder
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vinton County explosives plant resumes normal operations after gas release
A Vinton County explosives manufacturer has resumed normal operations after a nitrogen oxide release at one of its plants resulted evacuations and flight restrictions in the area. Austin Powder paused operations at its Red Diamond plant on June 11 after a reaction in a nitric acid tank caused a yellow-brown nitrogen oxide plume over the facility northwest of McArthur. The gas release necessitated evacuations of the surrounding area, including the village of Zaleski, which has a population of about 780 people. More: Chemical leak at Vinton County plant prompted evacuation: What we know Temporary flight restrictions also were put in place for a 30-nautical-mile radius around the plant. 'We sincerely regret the disruption and concern the evacuation order caused our neighbors and the surrounding community," Austin Powder president and CEO John Rathbun said in a press release. "Our safety systems worked as designed, and our team responded swiftly to protect the community." A "modest amount" of the gas vented through the plant's built-in safety system, according to Brad Kostka, a spokesperson for the public relations firm hired by Austin Powder. Kostka said testing of air, water and the work site revealed no health hazards to the community. Austin Powder has launched an internal investigation and will implement any necessary improvements to prevent a recurrence. The company has established a claim process to reimburse affected Vinton County residents for "reasonable expenses" — such as hotel stays and gas — resulting from the evacuation. Residents can contact Austin Powder at 216-839-5469 or claims@ to submit a claim for reimbursement. Entertainment and Things to Do reporter Belinda M. Paschal can be reached at bpaschal@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Austin Powder's explosives plant operating normally after gas release
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Huge chemical spill in Ohio grounds flights, sparks mass evacuations, and creates ominous dust cloud
A large chemical spill in Ohio has grounded all flights within 4,000 square miles and sparked mass evacuations. Thousands of gallons of nitric acid, a hazardous chemical compound that can irritate eyes, throats and lungs, leaked from a tank at the Austin Powder Red Diamond plant in McArthur on Wednesday morning. The company produces industrial explosives used for construction and mining. It is unclear how the leak started - but thick orange plumes of smoke were seen billowing across the blue sky in the area. An immediate evacuation order has been announced by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office, specifically for Zaleski - a small village in Ohio with a population of 750 locals. The panic occurred 185 miles east of where the 2023 toxic chemical train derailment happened in East Palestine, which completely devastated the small town. On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration banned nearly all airlines from flying within 3,700 square miles of airspace and 30 nautical miles near the spill. Only 'relief flights' are allowed in the no-fly zone. Dispatchers are currently directing local residents to evacuate their homes and go to the Vinton County High School gym. It could be hours before the air is deemed safe. The massive leak is coming from a storage tank that holds 5,000 gallons of nitric acid, according to Jackson County Emergency Management. Robert Czechlewski, Jackson County Emergency Management Director, said 3,000 gallons leaked from the tank. There are no reports of injuries from the chemical leak. In addition to feeling irritation in the eyes and nose, people could also feel drowsy and possibly fall unconscious, Brad Price with the Vinton County Health Department said. Price said anyone exposed to the dangerous chemical should immediately flush out their eyes and clean their skin. If symptoms worsen, he has urged people to call their primary health care provider for further assistance. Several local roads are also closed in the area, WBNS reported.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Chemical leak at explosives manufacturing plant prompts evacuations in Vinton County
MCARTHUR, Ohio (WCMH) — A chemical leak from an explosives manufacturing plant is prompting evacuations Wednesday in and around Zaleski in Vinton County, according to the sheriff's office. Creek Road, Morgan Road, Infirmary Road, State Route 677 and the Village of Zaleski are being evacuated. Residents are urged to leave the area to avoid exposure. Zaleski has about 750 residents. More than 400,000 Ohioans see driver's license suspensions lifted under new law The chemical leak is originating from the Austin Powder plant in McArthur after an unexpected release of nitrogen oxide, according to a statement from the plant. The cause of the leak is unknown. The Red Diamond facility's website says it manufactures materials that go into blast powder and dynamite. A spokesperson with the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency told NBC4 that 3,000 gallons of chemicals was released out of a 5,000 gallon tank. When the chemicals were released, it reacted to create nitric oxide in the air. Officials said after the leak is contained, the air quality will be monitored before an all-clear will be given for residents to return home. Emergency response protocols have been initiated at the Red Diamond Plant with Austin Powder saying no injuries or adverse health impacts have been identified at this time. Emergency management officials also said they've not received reports of injuries. Symptoms from exposure to nitrogen oxide include skin, eye and throat irritation. Some drowsiness is possible, according to officials. Those who think they may have been exposed should clean themselves with cold water, and if there are any lingering effects, seek medical attention. Officials said those with asthma or other respiratory problems will be more likely to be impacted by symptoms. A shelter is set up at Vinton County High School for anyone who doesn't have somewhere to go. The Federal Aviation Administration has placed a temporary flight restriction with a radius of 30 nautical miles up to 23,000 feet in the area of the leak. The TFR is currently in effect until 10:25 a.m. Thursday. Austin Powder says that the facility is the county's largest employer with about 250 employees. The plant was cited for a 'serious' OSHA violation in June 2024. 'On or about June 5, 2024, periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for equipment, such as but not limited to the bucket elevator at the mixing plant, was not performed at least annually to ensure the procedures and requirements of the standard were being followed when employees were required to perform service and maintenance activities,' according to OSHA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nitric acid leak at southeastern Ohio manufacturing plant prompts evacuations
Evacuations are underway as multiple agencies respond to a chemical leak at a manufacturing plant in Vinton County on Wednesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Vinton County Sheriff's Office confirmed that there was a 'confirmed leak' at Austin Powder, located at 32000 Powder Plant Rd. in McArthur, according to our news partners at WBNS in Columbus. Jackson County Emergency Management Director Robert Czechlewski stated that a storage tank containing 50,000 gallons of nitric acid was leaking. TRENDING STORIES: Coroner IDs 6-year-old girl killed after being hit by car in Harrison Twp City says arbitrator ignored 'simply obvious dangers' by reinstating fired police sergeant Woman unable to walk, sues hospital after surgeon operated on the wrong knee Czechlewski told WBNS that there was a miscommunication and that there were 3,000 gallons of nitric acid leaking from a 5,000-gallon tank. According to the company's website, Austin Powder is headquartered in Cleveland, and the manufacturing facility in Vinton County is known as Red Diamond. The company produces industrial explosives used for mining and construction purposes. A spokesperson with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency told WBNS that the agency was aware of the chemical leak and that a coordinator from the emergency response office was going to the site to investigate. Residents in the village of Zaleski are being asked to evacuate the area. The sheriff's office said those being evacuated can go to Vinton County High School, located at 63910 U.S. 50. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Nitric acid leak in Ohio sparks mass evacuations
A large chemical spill in Ohio has grounded all flights within 4,000 square miles and sparked mass evacuations. Thousands of gallons of nitric acid, a hazardous chemical compound that can irritate eyes, throats and lungs, leaked from a tank at Austin Powder Red Diamond plant in McArthur on Wednesday morning. The company produces industrial explosives used for construction and mining purposes. It is unclear how the leak started - but thick orange plumes of smoke were seen billowing across the blue sky in the area. An immediate evacuation order has been announced by the Vinton County Sheriff's Office, specifically for Zaleski - a small village in Ohio with a population of 750 locals. The panic occurred 185 miles east of where the 2023 toxic chemical train derailment happened in East Palestine, which completely devastated the small town. The massive leak is coming from a storage tank that holds 5,000 gallons of nitric acid, according to Jackson County Emergency Management. Robert Czechlewski, Jackson County Emergency Management Director, said 3,000 gallons leaked from the tank. When nitric acid mixes with the air, it causes a chemical reaction that produces nitric oxide, which creates and orange, brown gas to release. There are no reports of injuries from the chemical leak. In addition to feeling irritation in the eyes and nose, people could also feel drowsy and possibly fall unconscious, Brad Price with the Vinton County Health Department said. Price said anyone exposed to the dangerous chemical should immediately flush out their eyes and clean their skin. If symptoms worsen, he has urged people to call their primary health care provider for further assistance. Several local roads are also closed in the area, WBNS reported. The train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio (pictured), two years ago caused chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens, to spill into the soil of the 5,000-person town and the nearby Ohio River. They also spread through the air in massive 'really toxic' smoke plumes,' which could increase the risk of 'cancer clusters' forming, according to the head of the watchdog group. East Palestine residents are still exposed to a dozen chemicals linked to respiratory issues, fatigue, high blood pressure, leukemia and kidney, lung, liver and brain cancer. And a recent paper found 540,000 square miles, spanning 16 states, were exposed to traces of volatile chemicals during the disaster. Over a dozen chemicals were in the rail cars, including several carcinogens. Vinyl chloride, for example, travels through the blood and gets broken down by the liver into even more toxic chemicals. Norfolk Southern - the train company that was derailed - agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement to the residents of the Ohio town in April of 2024. And at the beginning of this year, a fresh lawsuit alleged for the first time that people died because of the disastrous 2023 train derailment. The new litigation contains the first seven wrongful death claims filed against Norfolk Southern railroad - including the death of a 1-week-old baby. It also alleges the railroad, and its contractors botched the cleanup while officials at the EPA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on it and failed to warn residents about the health risks. Many of the other parties in the lawsuit cite lingering, unexplained health problems along with concerns something more serious could develop.
