GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A chemical leak at Predictive Food Safety on Industrial Boulevard in Hall County prompted a significant emergency personnel response on Thursday morning.
Officials said the call came in around 9 a.m. from a nearby business where employees reported symptoms associated with chemical exposure. One employee was transported for further evaluation.
Upon arrival, Gainesville firefighters quickly identified the source of the odor—a container of peracetic acid (PAA) punctured by a forklift. Approximately 200 gallons of the chemical spilled and began drifting toward a storm drain.
Emergency crews contained the spill, successfully preventing it from spreading further. Gainesville Public Works arrived to apply sand to the remaining pools of PAA. However, it remains unclear how much of the chemical entered the storm drain.
Hall County Fire Rescue, Gainesville Fire Department, the Emergency Management Agency, and Gainesville Public Works were all present on the scene.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified due to the potential contamination of a water source. The site will be handed over to the EPA for further assessment.
