Jan.
11th
Attempted theft appears cause of ammonia leak in Kent
Attempted theft of ammonia gas perhaps by old-school methamphetamine cookers appears to be the cause of a leak in a cold storage plant in downtown Kent this morning.
Investigators found that someone had taken the cap off an outside valve that was no longer used.
Kent Fire Department responded to a 6:45 a.m. report of a strong chemical smell in the 300 block of Railroad Ave. N. at Washington Cold Storage. Ammonia is used in the plant’s refrigeration process and is considered toxic.
Firefighters quickly cordoned off an area surrounding the business and Kent Police closed West James Street in …