The City of Fernie shut down its operations on Friday to grieve the deaths of co-workers after an ammonia leak at the local ice rink.
According to the BC Coroners Service, the men who died include Wayne Hornquist, Lloyd Smith and Jason Podloski.
Deadly gas
Based on the reports, 2 of the men worked for the municipality. According to a spokesman for the parent company of refrigeration business CIMCO, the third man worked for their Calgary branch.
According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, Smith was a part-time paramedic who was off-duty and working at his other job with the municipality when he died.
The authorities are still figuring out the timeline that led to the deadly incident. According to Norm McInnis, city’s chief administrative officer, an alarm went off at the local arena which prompted the municipality to turn down the rink and call a specialist for emergency maintenance.
The emergency crews responded to a 911 call and arrived to discover one individual performing CPR to another person outside the building.
According to Fire Chief Ted Ruiter, the response crews originally entered the building and found the remains of the 2 victims but left for safety reasons after an interior search. The emergency responders were able to re-enter the facility and retrieve the bodies.
Potential danger of ammonia
Ammonia is a widely used in mechanical refrigeration systems, including in ice rinks. It is utilized in liquid form but turns into gas if released into the air.
The Canadian Centre for Occupation Health and Safety stated that ammonia is a colorless gas that is deadly if inhaled.
There was an evacuation order that is in effect for homes and businesses around the arena as the crews investigate if there is any lingering danger. According to the city, around 95 displaced residents were accommodated in a hotel.
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