UPDATE (1:19 p.m. Jan. 21): The Kern County Fire Department says it has identified the source of the chemical leak and have stopped it. Firefighters are still on scene working to neutralize the chemical.
TAFT, CA (KMJ) – Evacuations are underway near Taft after a chemical spill Wednesday morning.
The Kern County Fire Department says the hazardous chemical acrolein was spilled at at Taft Manufacturing Co., located at 19705 S. Lake Road.
Employees have been evacuated from the plant.
The fire department is recommending people who live or work within six miles of the spill site also evacuate.
Here’s a couple things we highly recommend:
⚠️Please bring your family and pets inside, close windows, air vents, and fireplace events.
⚠️Turn off fans, air conditioning, & forced air heating systems.
⚠️Go in to the interior room of your location, that has the fewest windows.— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) January 22, 2020
The American Red Cross has an evacuation center set up at First Baptist Church, at 220 N. First St.
Taft College has ordered students to go home
The Taft City School District said Taft Union High School and schools in the city are “sheltering in place” for student and staff safety.
