Salinas, CA -- Incident Update, 5:30AM: SFD and emergency personnel are continuing to monitor the incident at 1225 Abbott Street at the Taylor Farms Processing Facility.

The following schools will be closed due to the shelter-in-place order:

Lincoln Elementary

Monterey Park Elementary

Los Padres Elementary

Sherwood Elementary

Businesses, schools and neighborhood in the shelter-in-place and evacuation areas may have restricted access. The community is urged to continue following the shelter-in-place order for the impacted areas and remain indoors.

Contact your employer or school directly if you have questions about whether your employer or school will be closed.

Updates can be found on the incident and City of Salinas websites and social media accounts:

https://tinyurl.com/2022abbott

@CityOfSalinas

www.cityofsalinas.org

#2022AbbottIncident

Original Release:

The Salinas Fire Department (SFD) has begun evacuation of the immediate impacted area around 1225 Abbott Street known as the Taylor Farms Processing Facility. A Shelter-in-Place order has issued for the following areas:

• South of Constitution Blvd to
• Spreckels Ave and
• East of Main Street

This is due to the potential for an explosion and hazmat plume (cloud) of ammonia that can change the impacted areas based on shifts in wind direction. Evacuation areas may change as the incident evolves. 

Shortly after 7:15pm on Wednesday, April 13th, SFD arrived on scene at the Taylor Farms Processing Facility in response to a fire alarm. Over 22 fire units from across Monterey County responded. 

“The fire progressed to the point that it poses a significant risk for a potential explosion of ammonia that is located in the plant. For that reason, we pulled back our units to a safe area and have begun evacuation notices for the immediate area around the plant,” said Sam Klemek, Deputy Fire Chief and Incident Commander. 

For the community outside of this evacuation area, a shelter-in-place order has issued asking the residents to remain indoors:

• Keep animal inside

• Close all windows

• Shut down heating, ventilation, and fans

There is the potential of a full closure of a 1-mile radius of highway 101 in both directions. SFD is asking the community to avoid the highway and use Old Stage Road as an alternate route.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Response Teams are in route to address the potential for an ammonia cloud.  

Additional information will be released as available. Periodic updates and information will be available through the City’s social media platforms/website and reverse 9-1-1:

@cityofsalinas

www.cityofsalinas.org

###