Fire officials say that seven workers were transported to the hospital after a mixture of chemicals caused a hazardous situation at the Dean Foods plant in Harvard.
The Harvard Fire Protection District responded around 10:09 p.m. Tuesday to Dean Foods, 6303 Maxon Road in unincorporated Harvard.
Alex Vucha, a spokesperson for the Harvard Fire Protection District, said dispatchers received a 911 call of a chemical spill.
While firefighters were responding, at least two people inside of the plant reported respiratory distress symptoms from the incident.
Vucha said it was soon learned that there was a moderate-sized chemical spill and multiple workers were sick.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to bring hazmat equipment and ambulances from numerous fire departments throughout the area.
Workers had reportedly mixed chemicals in an effort to clean a small spill, causing the hazardous situation, Vucha said.
A hazardous materials team was quickly deployed inside the facility and the incident was mitigated within 25 minutes.
A total of seven people were transported to local hospitals with injuries considered non-life-threatening.
The facility was deemed safe and released to the property management shortly after 1:00 a.m.