by WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA — Hundreds of residents were forced from their homes after a late-night chemical spill released a dangerous cloud of toxic ammonia across parts of the city, prompting emergency evacuations and sending dozens to the hospital.
Emergency Evacuation After Toxic Spill
Authorities said nearly 1,000 residents were evacuated Wednesday night after a semi-truck carrying anhydrous ammonia released a large plume of hazardous gas into the air. The spill left around 35 people hospitalized, according to local officials.
Weatherford Emergency Manager Mike Karlin described the scene as rapidly escalating once the chemical began spreading.
“As the event unfolded, we had a large plume of anhydrous ammonia gas spread over a pretty large area,” Karlin told a local CBS affiliate.
The crash occurred shortly after 10 p.m. CST, Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice said. Roughly an hour later, emergency alerts began sounding across the community.
Alerts, Door-to-Door Warnings
A citywide alert warned residents of a “partial evacuation due to chemical spill at Holiday Inn Express.” Officials said the truck driver had parked the damaged rig behind the hotel for the night. The compromised equipment is believed to have triggered the leak.
Witnesses reported seeing first responders wearing gas masks as they went door-to-door, urging residents to leave immediately for their safety.
The alert issued explicit evacuation boundaries: “Evacuate north to Davis Ave and from Washington Ave to Lyle Rd. Safety location is Pioneer Cellular Center.”
People experiencing burning eyes, breathing trouble, or other symptoms were told to seek medical help immediately or head to the temporary medical station set up at Ace Hardware.
Shelter-in-Place Lifted, But Caution Urged
By early Thursday morning, the shelter-in-place order was lifted, but officials continued urging residents to take precautions.
Chief Orefice advised the community to leave any clothing worn during exposure outside to allow the ammonia to dissipate, reducing lingering contamination risk.
Schools across Weatherford—including Southwest Oklahoma State University—canceled classes for Thursday due to the hazardous air conditions and ongoing cleanup work.
How Dangerous Is Anhydrous Ammonia?
Anhydrous ammonia is a highly toxic chemical commonly used in farming and industrial refrigeration. Exposure can cause severe irritation to the eyes, lungs, and skin, and breathing it in high concentrations can be life-threatening.
This incident highlights the risks associated with mishandling or improper storage of ammonia-based industrial chemicals. In a similar case, the Eggo Company was fined approximately $85,000 in 2022 after failing to report a major ammonia release at its San Jose facility.
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Investigation Continues
Authorities have not released the name of the truck driver but confirmed that the rig was parked with damaged equipment, raising questions about maintenance, transport safety, and whether any violations occurred.
Local officials are expected to release additional information once the full environmental and safety assessment is completed.
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