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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - An ammonia leak which forced the evacuation
of two schools and kept residents of a large subdivision in their
homes is being investigated as a crime, officials said Wednesday.
Damage to the six-inch pipeline, tools and other gear found near
the break have authorities suspicious that someone tried to break
into the pipe to steal liquid ammonia, said Hillsborough County
Fire Rescue Chief Bill Nesmith. The FBI and the Hillsborough County
Sheriff's Office have joined the case.
Liquid ammonia can be used in the production of methamphetamine.
The FBI sent an agent to the scene just to be sure that if someone
did try to break into the pipe, it wasn't for more dangerous
purposes, Nesmith said.
"Everybody is concerned when they have anything like this, just
to make sure that it's nothing more devious than someone trying to
steal some ammonia for the making of drugs," Nesmith said. "We
are erring on the side of precaution more than anything."
Nesmith said investigators found tools used to open the pipe and
a makeshift breathing device. The tools and the device were not
things emergency crews who spent Tuesday trying to control the leak
would have left, the chief said.
The items were covered by liquid ammonia on Tuesday and were not
discovered until crews were able to investigate further Wednesday
morning.
The ammonia pipeline near the upscale FishHawk Ranch subdivision
began leaking Tuesday morning, forcing school officials to move
classes for an elementary school and middle school to other
schools. As many as 2,000 students were affected by the move.
Emergency crews shut down a major thoroughfare in east
Hillsborough County and advised residents to stay in their homes
for most of the day. The escaping vapors blackened leaves on acres
of trees surrounding the pipeline, which carries ammonia from the
Port of Tampa to Polk County.
No one was injured in the leak. Crews were able to shut off the
ammonia supply and stop the leak.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - An ammonia leak which forced the evacuation
of two schools and kept residents of a large subdivision in their
homes is being investigated as a crime, officials said Wednesday.
Damage to the six-inch pipeline, tools and other gear found near
the break have authorities suspicious that someone tried to break
into the pipe to steal liquid ammonia, said Hillsborough County
Fire Rescue Chief Bill Nesmith. The FBI and the Hillsborough County
Sheriff's Office have joined the case.
Liquid ammonia can be used in the production of methamphetamine.
The FBI sent an agent to the scene just to be sure that if someone
did try to break into the pipe, it wasn't for more dangerous
purposes, Nesmith said.
"Everybody is concerned when they have anything like this, just
to make sure that it's nothing more devious than someone trying to
steal some ammonia for the making of drugs," Nesmith said. "We
are erring on the side of precaution more than anything."
Nesmith said investigators found tools used to open the pipe and
a makeshift breathing device. The tools and the device were not
things emergency crews who spent Tuesday trying to control the leak
would have left, the chief said.
The items were covered by liquid ammonia on Tuesday and were not
discovered until crews were able to investigate further Wednesday
morning.
The ammonia pipeline near the upscale FishHawk Ranch subdivision
began leaking Tuesday morning, forcing school officials to move
classes for an elementary school and middle school to other
schools. As many as 2,000 students were affected by the move.
Emergency crews shut down a major thoroughfare in east
Hillsborough County and advised residents to stay in their homes
for most of the day. The escaping vapors blackened leaves on acres
of trees surrounding the pipeline, which carries ammonia from the
Port of Tampa to Polk County.
No one was injured in the leak. Crews were able to shut off the
ammonia supply and stop the leak.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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