At 6:13 P.M. on Tuesday, June 6, the Arrowhead Joint Fire District was dispatched to Progressive Foam, located at 1 Southern Gateway Street, in response to a gas leak incident within the plant.
Plant employees promptly dialed 911 to report a natural gas leak, prompting their request for immediate assistance from firefighters.
Upon their arrival at 6:16 P.M., firefighters met with the plant employees, who had taken swift action to address the situation. The employees had already implemented measures to control the leak, including shutting down the gas supply to the plant, eliminating any potential ignition sources, and promptly contacting both 911 and Columbia Gas.
Using specialized gas meters, firefighters conducted a thorough assessment of the building and confirmed the presence of measurable amounts of gas inside the structure. As a precautionary measure, Gnadenhutten Police and Firefighters promptly evacuated nearby residences and a softball field, ensuring the safety of the surrounding area. Concurrently, firefighters assisted plant employees in effectively ventilating the building to mitigate the gas buildup.
In anticipation of potential injuries, Arrowhead Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) remained on standby throughout the operation. Following extensive monitoring with gas meters, which revealed no detectable gas both inside and around the plant, residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes.
The exact cause of the gas leak remains under investigation, and Plant Management is actively leading the inquiry to ascertain the factors contributing to the incident.