(ModBee) - Dozens of employees at Bronco Winery were evacuated Saturday afternoon when a pipe broke leading to an ammonia leak.

One home near the winery was also evacuated and a shelter in place order was issued for a few houses downwind of the winery on Bystrum Road south of Ceres, said Modesto Fire Department Division Chief Mike Lillie.

Ammonia is a skin and inhalation irritant that in high levels can cause serious injury, Lillie said.

A Hazardous Materials alarm was activated at the winery at 3:18 p.m. Employees reported seeing a cloud of ammonia around the outdoor pipe.

Plant workers were able to slow but not stop the leak before fire crews arrived on scene.

A 14-person Hazmat team made up of firefighters from the Modesto Fire Department, Turlock Fire Department and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District responded to the scene.

Two firefighters in fully encapsulated suits were tasked with turning off two valves that were within three feet of the leak on either side of it.