At forums, Arclin, Kanawha emergency officials address ammonia leak, alert 'snafus'

At forums, Arclin, Kanawha emergency officials address ammonia leak, alert 'snafus'

An Aug. 16, 2025, ammonia leak at the Arclin chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia, prompted a shelter-in-place order and raised concerns among residents about plant safety and emergency communication. At a public meeting on Aug. 25, 2025, in Belle, WV, company leaders and Kanawha County emergency officials explained the cause of the leak, reviewed the response, and outlined steps to improve alerts and safety procedures in future incidents.