A “hazardous materials incident” occurred at the Chemours chemical plant on 4200 Camp Ground Road, triggering a brief shelter-in-place order in a half-mile radius, according to a July 17 alert from Louisville Metro Emergency Management.
Around 10:30 a.m., the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District responded to a report of a hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid chemical spill and discovered a “small, confirmed leak” from a rail car valve, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District Chief Joseph Bowman later confirmed. Chemours workers helped suppress the gas using a water monitor on the rail car.
Additional hazardous material companies from Okolona, Jeffersontown and Anchorage Middletown Fire were also requested to the scene. Crews successfully contained the leak within about 50 minutes, Bowman said.
Following the containment, testing and monitoring confirmed there were no longer detectable hazards present.
The situation has been turned back over to the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District, Louisville’s Department of Health & Wellness and Chemours.
Chemours spokesperson Jess Loizeaux said the chemical release at the plant triggered the alert, “and has since been contained.” The shelter-in-place order was lifted shortly after 11:30 a.m., Bowman confirmed.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, hydrogen fluoride can appear as a colorless gas or liquid. When combined with water, hydrogen fluoride becomes hydrofluoric acid, a colorless liquid used in the plant’s manufacturing process. Hydrofluoric acid is highly toxic, and inhalation can cause respiratory irritation or coughing, among other health effects.
“There are no injuries and all site personnel are safely sheltered in place. Local emergency responders are on site and safety remains our top priority. We will provide additional information as it becomes available,” Loizeaux said earlier.
The Chemours Louisville Works plant, a major manufacturer in the Rubbertown industrial corridor, produces Freon.
Original article online at: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2026/07/17/hazmat-incident-reported-in-southwest-louisville/90955577007/