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Updated on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 6:53 p.m.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey joined county commissioners Lance Wheeler and Natalie Tennant Wednesday evening in a press conference at the Kanawha County Emergency Operations Center.
They took questions from the press about the events immediately following the chemical leak at Catalyst Refiners between Nitro and Institute.
Morrisey noted that all road closures and shelter in place orders have been lifted. He indicated that upwards of 30 people were evaluated or transported to the hospital.
He also noted that the state doesn’t know much yet, but there will be investigations at the state and federal level in the coming days.
What We Know
Two people are dead and one is in critical condition after a volatile reaction at a chemical manufacturing facility in Nitro Wednesday morning. Approximately 30 or more people — including seven first responders — were transported from the site or sought medical attention independently, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey Wednesday evening.
Following the incident, a shelter in place order was immediately put in place for a one-mile radius of the site.
A press conference from Kanawha County officials including Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango and Kanawha County Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman Wednesday afternoon described an explosion at the scene while workers were cleaning a tank.
“Other employees drug out the affected workers using respirators,” Sigman said. “Many of them had respirators. When I got there, firefighters and EMS personnel were doing CPR on two of the patients, trying to revive them.”
At approximately 9:31 a.m., a Chem Fixed incident was reported at the facility according to a press release from the Kanawha County Commission. The Kanawha County Emergency Operations Center was activated at 9:46 a.m.
The site was used to manufacture silver catalyst. Preliminary information indicates the site was in the process of shutting down operations, and cleaning and decontamination activities were underway in preparation for closure. It was unclear if just the tank was being shut down or the entire facility.
At this time, it is believed that a chemical reaction occurred, creating hydrogen sulfide. The incident is believed to have been caused by the unintentional mixture of two chemicals — M2000A and nitric acid — during the cleaning of a tank, resulting in an explosive reaction.
“The most two dangerous times of a chemical plant’s life is start up and shut down,” Sigman said. “Well, here we are in shut down, and that’s the most dangerous time of its life. It’s like landing a plane: take off and landing is the most dangerous times. Starting out and ending a chemical process are the most dangerous times.”
During the press conference, the shelter in place order was lifted, but Route 25 will remain closed for an unknown amount of time from Cleveland Ave to New Goff Mountain Rd in Institute to allow access for emergency vehicles.
⚠ The Shelter in place has been lifted. RT25 will remain closed for an unknown amount of time from Cleveland Ave to New Goff Mountain Rd in Institute. Use caution in the area.
— Metro 911 (@KanawhaCoAlerts) April 22, 2026
More information is expected after state and federal agencies including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conduct thorough investigations.
Ames Goldsmith Corporation President Frank Barber said in a statement that “Ames Goldsmith Corp. is deeply saddened by the deaths of two of our colleagues as a result of an industrial accident at our Catalyst Refiners plant in Nitro, West Virginia, this morning. A third colleague is being treated at an area hospital. This is an unfathomably difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families.
“Ames Goldsmith is working closely with local, state and federal agencies to determine the cause of the incident, which appears to have resulted in the creation of chemical fumes within a building at the facility. The fumes were contained within that one building. Other Catalyst Refiner employees are being evaluated at area hospitals as a precautionary measure.
“We are grateful for the immediate and highly professional response of local emergency responders and the health care providers at area hospitals. They are a credit to Kanawha County,” he said.
This remains an active and developing situation. The public is encouraged to rely on official sources for information and not on rumor, speculation, or third-party reports. Updates will be provided through the Kanawha County Facebook/Kanawha County Emergency Management Facebook page, and Metro 911 Facebook page.
What Is Catalyst Refiners?
Catalyst Refiners is a chemical manufacturing subsidiary of Ames Goldsmith, a precious metals manufacturer based in New York state. According to Secretary of State records, the company has held a West Virginia business license since 2018.
A previous state business license issued for Catalyst Refiners in 1997 that shares officers and addresses with the current license was revoked in 2015 for failure to file an annual report.
A DEP inspection of a nitric acid tank conducted in January noted no deficiencies during the inspection of the facility.
“You and your staff are to be commended for your commitment to proper operation and maintenance of your facility,” Richard Moles, tanks supervisor wrote in his report.
Statement from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito at 12:21 p.m.
“I am aware of the chemical emergency at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute and am closely monitoring the situation as it develops,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in a statement. “I am grateful to our local first responders and emergency personnel who are on the scene working quickly to contain the incident and keep residents and workers safe. In the meantime, my office is staying in contact with state and local officials, and I encourage those in the affected area to follow any and all guidance from officials as we continue to learn more.”
Statement from Gov. Patrick Morrisey
Gov. Patrick Morrisey released a statement about the incident at noon.
The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Division (EMD), the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are coordinating closely with Kanawha County Emergency Management to address a chemical incident at the Ames Goldsmith Catalyst Refiners along the border of Nitro and Institute.
EMD personnel are currently stationed at the county’s Command Center to provide direct operational support and DEP is providing decontamination and disposal assistance. State emergency leaders continue to monitor the situation and remain ready to deploy additional resources.
A number of individuals are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals, and state agencies stand ready to assist those affected as well. Residents in the surrounding area should continue to follow the Personal Protective Measures issued by Kanawha County for further safety guidance and updates.
“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens,” Morrisey said. “We are working around the clock with local officials to ensure this incident is contained and that all necessary state resources are on the ground to protect the community.”
Original Story at 11:29 a.m.
A shelter in place order is in effect for those in and around the Catalyst Refiners site in Nitro following a chemical leak. The road is closed from West Virginia State University (WVSU) to the Nitro/St. Albans bridge on the Route 25 side of the river, according to Metro 911.
Kanawha County manager Jeremy Young said the chemical that spilled is believed to be nitric acid. It’s a strong mineral acid used in fertilizers, explosive and metal processing.
According to the National Institute of Health, nitric acid fumes can cause immediate irritation of the respiratory tract, pain and trouble breathing, followed by a period of recovery that may last several weeks.
Young said the order was issued in an abundance of caution for those inside the facility as well as within a one-mile radius of the plant.
The first call came in at 9:38 a.m. Then at 9:50 a.m., the Emergency Operations Center was activated.
“First responders, Kanawha County Emergency Management and hazmat crews are on site assessing the situation,” Young said. “There’s probably 30 to 40 employees that are being checked out. There’s maybe four there that are serious, potentially.”
He said the shelter in place for St Albans has been lifted and that traffic on the interstate has not been affected.