Fear of ammonia leak forces residents indoor amid blaze in Sweden

People in the Swedish town of Alvsbyn are barricading themselves inside due to a possible ammonia leak caused by a fire in a bread factory, local media reported on Monday.

Police closed off the Polarbrod factory compound and urged residents to remain indoors, with windows and doors shut, due to danger of an explosion, as ammonia could have leaked from a cooling facility.

Schools also remained closed.

The fire reached the roof and caused damage to great parts of the factory, Polarbrod said in a statement.

Danger of larger emissions

"If the walls and ceilings collapse, there could be larger emissions," the head of the local fire brigade told broadcaster SVT.

According to employees at the factory, the fire broke out on a plastic conveyor belt, after a piece of bread started burning in one of the ovens.

"It is a great tragedy for a us, but luckily nobody was hurt," the head of Polarbrod said.