Chemical Leak Triggers Emergency Response at Hall County Plant

Emergency officials respond to a chemical leak at Predictive Food Safety in Hall County on the morning of August 29, 2024.Photo byHall County Fire Rescue

A chemical leak at Predictive Food Safety off Industrial Boulevard in Hall County prompted a significant emergency response Thursday morning.

Officials said the initial call came from a nearby business when employees started complaining of symptoms associated with chemical exposure. One employee was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Photo byHall County Fire Rescue

At approximately 9:20 a.m., Hall County Fire Rescue and five units from the Gainesville Fire Department responded to the plant. The call was quickly upgraded when the first crew arrived and found a large container of peracetic acid (PAA) leaking.

Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberly Ledsinger says a forklift accidentally punctured the container, releasing approximately 200 gallons of acid toward the property’s storm drain.

A firefighter pours sand over the leaked chemical.Photo byHall County Fire Rescue

“Responding units began to mitigate the spill and successfully prevented it from spreading any further,” says Ledsinger.

It is unknown how much of the acid leaked into the storm drain.

Officials contacted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the proximity to a water source.

Gainesville Public Works crews covered the remaining chemical pools with sand, and officials turned over the scene to the EPA.