STANWOOD — An attempt to steal ammonia from a cold storage facility was so dangerous that police have checked local hospitals for someone with severe burns.
A 6,000-gallon tank at North Star Cold Storage began to leak just before 6 a.m. Tuesday after someone tried to open or remove a valve. An O-ring was pushed out, sending a cloud of gas into the air.
A section of Pioneer Highway and several businesses were shut down. A Marysville firefighter was treated for minor injuries after he was exposed to the gas through a leak in his protective suit.
"To my knowledge, this is the first time anyone has tried to break into the high-pressure tank. I don’t think these people realized how dangerous it was," Stanwood Police Chief Tom Davis said, adding that someone could have been severely burned.
Davis isn’t sure if the burglar was able to siphon off any ammonia. No arrests have been made.
Anhydrous ammonia, a commercial refrigerant, is a common ingredient used to make methamphetamine. Police say they’ve seen a decline in ammonia thefts in recent months as cooks have learned how to make their own ammonia using dry ice.
The company is still trying to determine how much ammonia was lost, general manager Thomas Rees said Wednesday.
No products were ruined, he said. The plant processes seafood, including salmon and crab.
This isn’t the first time the plant has been hit by thieves looking for ammonia. After those attempts, the company worked with police to increase security, adding alarms and motion sensors.
Police and Rees were expected to meet to discuss additional security measures.
Anyone who might have heard or seen someone near the facility about 5 a.m. Tuesday is asked to call the Stanwood Police Department at 360-629-4555.
Reporter Diana Hefley:
425-339-3463 or
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