An ammonia gas leak at a food production plant in the 515 Park Avenue in Lake Villa resulted in nine people being transported area hospitals on July 2, 2021. (Joe Shuman / Pioneer Press)

       Nine employees of a food production company in Lake Villa were transported to area hospitals after an ammonia gas leak at the company’s facility, authorities said Friday afternoon.

       The leak was reported at 11:12 a.m. at the C & F Packing plant in the 500 block of Park Avenue. Leaking ammonia from a rooftop cooling unit entered the building’s air conditioning and ventilation system, said Lake Villa Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Andy Wienckowski.

       None of the employees were experiencing life-threatening injuries, Wienckowski said.

       The company’s maintenance workers did a great job of assessing the situation and evacuating the 125 employees before taking steps to expel the gas from the building, Wienckowski said.

       Nine employees of a food production company in Lake Villa were transported to area hospitals after an ammonia gas leak at the company’s facility, authorities said Friday afternoon. (Joe Shuman / Pioneer Press)

       Based on the initial number of nine employees complaining of respiratory distress, Lake Villa activated a mutual aid alarm that brought assistance from nine other area fire departments, Wienckowski said.

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       The employees who experienced breathing issues were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Vista Medical Center - East in Waukegan and Lake Forest Hospital.

       Employees were able to reenter the building after about an hour, Wienckowski said.

       According to the company’s website, C & F Packing is a producer of sausage products, pizza toppings and other cooked meat items.

       Company representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

       Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.

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