Dozens Hospitalized, Hundreds Evacuated After Ammonia Leak in Weatherford, Oklahoma

An ammonia gas leak in Weatherford, Oklahoma, sent dozens of people to the hospital and forced widespread evacuations early in the morning on Thursday, November 13, according to local authorities.

The incident began late Wednesday night when a tanker carrying anhydrous ammonia began leaking in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express. Investigators believe the driver had parked there for the night when a mechanical issue—possibly involving a faulty valve or seal—allowed the toxic gas to escape.

As the fumes spread, firefighters wearing gas masks went door-to-door, waking residents and urging them to evacuate. Others were told to shelter in place as crews worked to contain the leak. By early Thursday morning, the immediate danger had eased, but air quality monitoring and cleanup operations were expected to continue for several days.

Hundreds of Residents Affected

Weatherford Regional Hospital treated 36 people for exposure, 10 of whom were transferred to hospitals in Oklahoma City for additional treatment. The condition of those patients is not currently known. Police officials earlier reported that several victims were in critical condition after suffering respiratory distress.

Roughly 500 to 600 residents sought refuge in emergency shelters, and local schools were closed for the day. Nursing homes and other care facilities were also evacuated. One resident, Trisha Doucet, said her 89-year-old grandmother—who is bedridden and under hospice care—had to be transported by ambulance.

The Dangers of Ammonia

Anhydrous ammonia, a colorless gas with a pungent odor, is commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer. However, it can be extremely dangerous when released into the air, causing burns, breathing problems, and, in high concentrations, death.

This is the latest in a series of serious ammonia incidents in the U.S. Only a week before the Weatherford incident, an explosion at a plant near Yazoo City, Mississippi, triggered a similar leak and widespread evacuations. In 2023, five people were killed in Illinois when a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia overturned after being forced off the road.

Cleanup Operations Are Underway

Authorities in Weatherford, a city of about 12,000 people located 70 miles west of Oklahoma City, said the leak has been contained. Environmental officials, hazmat crews, and the Oklahoma National Guard are working together to oversee cleanup efforts. Airgas, the industrial gas distributor that owns the tanker, said it is cooperating with the investigation.

“Anhydrous ammonia warrants cautious handling and management,” Airgas said in a statement, urging residents to follow safety guidance until the area is fully cleared.

As officials work to determine exactly what went wrong in Weatherford, the incident serves as another reminder of how dangerous ammonia leaks can be—and how often they stem from preventable failures.

Ammonia Leaks: Preventable Tragedies

Ammonia leaks are among the most dangerous types of industrial accidents, often resulting from preventable mechanical failures, poor maintenance, or inadequate safety procedures. Anhydrous ammonia is widely used in agriculture and manufacturing, but it must be handled with extreme care. When storage tanks, pipelines, or transport valves fail, even a small leak can release enough toxic gas to endanger entire communities.

Too often, these accidents trace back to negligence—faulty equipment that wasn’t repaired, safety checks that were skipped, or training that wasn’t properly provided. Companies that produce, transport, or store hazardous materials have a duty to ensure their systems are secure and their workers protected. When they fail to meet that duty, the results can be catastrophic.

At Arnold & Itkin, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the ammonia gas leak in Weatherford.