Ammonia leak causes dairy factory evacuation

A poisonous gas leak at a Hokitika dairy factory early this morning forced the evacuation of staff.

Greymouth Fire Safety officer Mark Thomas said the ammonia leak at the Westland Dairy Factory had the "capacity to cause considerable danger to the public".

"Fortunately the Hokitika brigade had taken part in a full ammonia containment exercise just three weeks ago in the exact place where the leak occurred, so they knew exactly what to do."

Staff alerted emergency services at 2.38am and two appliances from Hokitika and one from Greymouth attended.

Mr Thomas said fire service staff wearing full protective ammonia suits, together with one member of the factory's own rescue squad, entered the engine room where the leak had originated and quickly isolated it.

"The wind was minimal at the time but the brigade spent about three hours with staff just monitoring the area to ensure there was no danger to the public."

Staff were evacuated for some hours but the factory would continue operations as normal today, he said.

A split filter was thought to be responsible for the leak.

- NZPA