One worker dead after ammonia leak at Boston warehouse

Officials continue to investigate after a worker was killed after an ammonia leak at a warehouse in Boston. 

At around 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency crews responded to the Stavis Seafoods Warehouse at 7 Channel St. for a reported ammonia leak, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Despite full gear, responders were at first unable to enter the facility.

Crews were later able to enter the building to get four employees out safely, but they found the victim’s body on the second floor by the stairs. 

By 9:20 p.m., crews had stopped the leak.

Around 5,300 pounds of the chemical leaked into the building.

Area businesses and residences were ordered to shelter in place during the incident.

A medical examiner will determine how the person died, according to the fire department. 

In a statement, Stavis Seafoods CEO Richard Stavis said:

We were devastated to learn that one of our warehouse employees has died as a result of the ammonia leak at a Stavis Seafoods warehouse. We are not releasing any further information until the employee’s family has been notified.  We are thankful that four employees who were in the building at the time were able to quickly and safely evacuate.  We want to understand exactly what happened and will of course cooperate with all authorities in their investigation.

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