Ammonia leak in Florida causes evacuations

3 schools were closed and several neighborhoods evacuated as authorities tried to contain an ammonia leak that started when a 16-year-old boy drilled a hole into a pipeline because he heard money was hidden there.

Photo: Ammonia leak in Florida causes evacuations

Ammonia leak in Florida causes evacuations

The teen was severely burned when he drilled into the pipe Monday night, releasing a cloud of ammonia near the Alafia River, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital, and his condition was not immediately available.

Fire crews worked through the night Monday and into Tuesday, spraying water on the leak to dissipate the noxious cloud. Four firefighters were treated for respiratory problems.

The teen told deputies he drilled into the pipe in search of money he heard was hidden inside. Officials said he likely will face felony charges.

The pipe carries ammonia from a port to fertilizer plants east of Tampa.

The sheriff's office said it may take another day or so to stop the leak because pressure must be reduced in the pipe before repairs can begin. An expert was being flown from Houston to Tampa to work on it Tuesday.

Around 3,700 homes within a half mile of the leak were evacuated, authorities said. Liquid ammonia, an ingredient in fertilizer that provides nitrogen to plants, vaporizes when it hits the air and can cause respiratory problems.

Environmental damage, if any, was still being determined.

Ammonia can be extremely toxic and may be fatal if inhaled. The vapors are irritating and corrosive, according to the federal Emergency Response Guidebook. Symptoms of exposure include a harsh burning sensation in the nose, a bad taste or stinging in the mouth, as well as headaches, nausea and difficulty breathing.