Volume 20, Number 28
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Leak prompts HazMat warning By Nick Sambides Jr. and Lauren Sellew Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — An ammonia leak compelled firefighters to warn residents within 1.5 miles of an Industrial Drive ice manufacturer to stay indoors and keep their windows closed and air conditioners off for two hours late Sunday night.
Photos: Petit Family Foundation/Facebook
No injuries were reported and no environmental damage was done. The manufacturer, Diamond Ice, remained shut down as of Monday night as a contractor continued to repair the leak, Southington Deputy Fire Chief Scott DiBattista said. A reverse 911 warning issued by text set the warning perimeter at 1.25 miles, and a posting on the Southington Fire Department Facebook page listed the perimeter as 1.5 miles. Residents in Southington, Bristol and Plainville were notified by the emergency notification system and through door to door communication, DiBattista said.
An area of approximately 1.5 miles in diameter from Diamond Ice includes ESPN’s headquarters, Lake Compounce and portions of West Queen Street, Town Line Road, Red Stone Hill and Routes 10 and 177. The Fire Department’s warning went out at 9:50 p.m. Sunday and an all-clear was issued at 11:52 p.m. The incident at the plant at 93 Industrial Drive was reported shortly before 8 p.m. on Sunday. Firefighters arriving noticed a strong odor of ammonia and, using a thermal imaging camera, saw a plume venting from the roof area, DiBattista said. See Leak, A10
13 years in, Petit race still draws a crowd The 13th Annual Petit Family Foundation Road Race and Fitness Walk was held Sunday, July 11, setting off from Plainville High School. And once again, the event was well-attended. A social media post by the Petit Family Foundation states: “Our hearts are so full of #gratitude! #thankyou for your wonderful support and for making it such a great day yesterday at the 13th Annual Petit Family Foundation Road Race & Fitness Walk! #thankyou to the Plainville Police Department, Plainville Fire Department and Public Works! #thankyou to all of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, participants and race committee! For Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela....always.” In the 5K race, Mario Vazquez bested the 351-person field with a time of 16:07. Plainville resident Jacob Demmons was second (17:57). The top female finisher was Sarah Praisner (24th, 21:11). Gianna Rodriquez was the top female runner from Plainville (30th, 21:47).
Tropical Storm Elsa left her mark Tropical Storm Elsa carved a destructive and soaking path up the East Coast last week after killing at least one person in Florida and spinning up a tornado at a Georgia Navy base that flipped recreational vehicles upsidedown and blew one of them into a lake.
Department on West Main Street and left up to 2½ feet of water submerging blockslong sections of Hanover, Pratt and State streets as Hanover Brook overflowed.
See Storm, A7
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Elsa moved through Connecticut Friday, July 9 closing streets, flooding basements and damaging cars.
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Among Hartford County communities, Rocky Hill was the hardest hit, rain-wise, taking on 3.04 inches. Nearby, some of the heaviest flooding in 30 years was visited upon downtown Meriden. At its worst the storm almost flooded the Police
The floodwaters also took the Quinnipiac River over its banks near Route 15 and the Quinnipiac Street bridge in Wallingford.
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