The city of Bloomington evacuated the Frank Southern Ice Arena Tuesday evening after detecting an ammonia leak.
Tim Street, director of the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department said about 30 people, including staff, figure skaters and hockey players were in the arena at about 6:30 p.m. when the leak set off an alarm.
Everyone was able to leave the arena on their own, and nobody required medical treatment, he said.
The parks department had said on its website that it notified the Monroe County Community School Corp. because of the arena’s proximity to Bloomington High School South, but did so only “out of an abundance of caution.”
The facility, at 2100 S. Henderson St., is just east of the school. The arena hosts the Bloomington Blades youth hockey program, the Indiana University Ice Hockey team and the Bloomington Figure Skating Club. It also allows public skating.
Ammonia, also known as ammonia gas or anhydrous, is a colorless gas with a very sharp odor, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The odor of ammonia is familiar to most people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, household cleaners and window cleaning products. The agency said exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia.
Street said a contractor has determined that a gasket on an oil mixer failed and caused the leak, which set off the alarm and a large fan to vent the gas.
As the arena was only two days from the end of the season, Street said it will remain closed for now. The parks department will await a more detailed report from the contractor to understand what would need to happen for the facility to be reopened.
The arena dates back to the late 1960s, though it was not enclosed until 1988. Street said it counts about 65,000 visitors per October to March season. It was named after a banker, civic leader and longtime parks and school board member.
Street said the facility’s rising maintenance costs and price of repairs will play a major role in determining the facility’s future. Until the city sees the contractor’s full report, he said it’s too early to say whether the decades‑old arena can be ready for fall, or whether city leaders — and the community at large — have to consider other options.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington ice arena will stay closed as officials probe ammonia leak
Reporting by Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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