Gas leak at P&G causes alert

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

The Procter & Gamble facility in Mehoopany experienced a chlorine gas leak Sunday evening, but nobody was in danger.

P&G spokesman Alex Fried said the substance was used as a water disinfectant for utilities, and the immediate area surrounding where the leak occurred was quickly cordoned off, and the chlorine cylinder shut down.

The leak was detected at 7:20 p.m., and a chemical alert was sounded, Fried said.

As a precaution, vehicles from at least five fire companies assembled at 87 Sales and Service and about the same number of ambulances assembled at a staging area at the Russell Hill United Methodist Church, but were released by 9 p.m., with the exception of Wyoming CountyEMAand FWM Ambulance.

Although the plant was on alert, the prevailing winds quickly took an unspecified amount of gas away from the plant and the production lines were not disrupted, Fried said.

The local plant employs 2,200 people, and  makes such consumer products as Pampers and Luvs disposable diapers, Charmin toilet tissues, and Bounty paper towels and napkins