A North Canaan farm has been evacuated after a chemical reaction produced a vapor cloud Tuesday afternoon, and fire officials said a regional hazmat team has been called to the scene.
According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, two chemicals used to clean dairy equipment were "inadvertently mixed" around 1 p.m. Tuesday at Elm Knoll Farm, located at 294 East Canaan Road/Route 44 in the East Canaan section of North Canaan.
DEEP officials said the chemical reaction produced a vapor cloud containing chlorine and phosphine, and the farm was subsequently evacuated.
Torrington firefighters arrived at the farm and cut power to the barn, which ended the reaction, the DEEP said.
The Torrington hazmat team and first responders from DEEP worked to ventilate the barn. A DEEP spokesperson said late Tuesday afternoon that tests revealed ventilation successfully removed the chemicals from the air.
Traffic was delayed on Route 44 after officials shut down one lane of traffic while responding to the scene. Fire officials said the incident was contained to one barn.
It's not clear if anyone has been injured. DEEP officials said any environmental damage to the area will be minimal.
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