Chemical spill west of Phoenix shuts down intersection for hours

PHOENIX — Dozens of first responders worked on a possible chemical spill at a fertilizer plant west of Phoenix early Wednesday morning.

Authorities with the Phoenix Fire Department confirmed the smell of ammonia at Fertizona in Buckeye but hadn’t detected a leak yet. The accident was being treated as hazardous material.

The accident shut down State Route 85 at Baseline Road. The roads did not reopen until after 11 a.m. The closure lasted about six hours.

SR85 NB at Baseline: Road closed for HazMat incident. SB closed at Southern. Baseline closed EB/WB #aztraffic

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) January 4, 2017

The plant and nearby businesses were evacuated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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