Residents in parts of Vinton County, Ohio, were temporarily evacuated on Wednesday after a chemical leak at the Austin Powder Company’s Red Diamond explosives manufacturing facility released a hazardous plume of nitrogen oxide gas into the air. While the release has since stopped and residents have returned home, the incident has prompted investigations and raised questions about the safety protocols at the plant.
The leak occurred around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Red Diamond facility, located northwest of McArthur. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that a reaction in a 5,000-gallon tank containing nitric acid led to the release of nitrogen oxide gas. An “unknown contaminant” entering the tank is believed to have triggered the chemical reaction. The Ohio EPA stated via X that no injuries were reported from the incident.
Initially, a large brown plume of nitric oxide was visible over the region, prompting immediate concern. The National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, provided real-time plume updates to emergency managers, indicating the gas was drifting southward. In response, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for the village of Zaleski, home to about 750 residents, and surrounding areas along Creek Road, Morgan Road, Infirmary Road, and State Route 677. A temporary shelter was established at Vinton County High School for displaced residents.
The exact quantity of the chemical released remains a point of differing reports. Robert Czechlewski, Jackson County Emergency Management Director, stated at a press briefing that an estimated 3,000 gallons of nitric acid were released from the 5,000-gallon tank. However, Brad Kostka, representing Austin Powder through a strategic communications agency, later told The Columbus Dispatch that company officials reported the leak involved approximately 100 gallons, occurring after a pressure release within the tank.
Nitrogen oxide gas can cause a range of symptoms, including irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, and throat, as well as coughing, shortness of breath, and drowsiness. More severe exposure can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs or, with repeated high levels, permanent lung damage. Vinton County Health Department Director of Environmental Health, Brad Price, advised those exposed to clean themselves and irrigate eyes with fresh water, seeking medical attention if symptoms persist. As of Wednesday evening, the Ohio EPA reported no positive readings of nitric oxide in the air, and no injuries or hospitalizations have been reported. Groundwater and drinking water are not believed to have been impacted, though the company will conduct further tests.
The incident also led to a temporary flight restriction imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within a 30-nautical-mile radius around the plant. This restriction, which affected flights from Rickenbacker International Airport, was resolved by 11 a.m. on June 11.
Austin Powder Company, founded in 1833, is described as the oldest manufacturing enterprise in Cleveland and produces industrial explosives globally. The Red Diamond plant in McArthur has a documented history of past incidents and violations. In 2009, an explosion at the same facility injured at least 10 employees, with one fatality months later, stemming from a broken detonating cord during manufacturing. The company has also faced millions of dollars in fines from federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections and environmental violations, including a 2013 agreement to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty to resolve Clean Water Act violations.
Multiple agencies, including the Ohio EPA, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Ohio Public Safety, Ohio Department of Health, Vinton County Health Department, Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, and local hazmat teams, were involved in monitoring and responding to the recent incident.
