(Photo by Sai Mokhtari)
An ammonia leak at Prospect Park's LeFrak Center at Lakeside skating rink sent nine firefighters and one civilian to the hospital on Wednesday night and prompted the closure of part of the park.
The gas smell began to permeate blocks of nearby Prospect Lefferts Gardens at around 8 p.m., and neighbors and park-goers reported it making their eyes burn and making breathing difficult. FDNY hazardous materials crews responded at around 9:15, but could not find the source of the leak at first. Sixty firefighters responded altogether, an FDNY spokesman said, and working with local cops, they managed to stop it by around 10:50.
The 10 injured were taken to New York Methodist Hospital and were, according to the spokesman, treated for breathing problems.
The leak was traced to a skating rink chilling unit, which uses ammonia as part of keeping ice frozen for skating, and the Fire Department believes the release was accidental. The park was fully open this morning, but the LeFrak Center is closed. Park officials said they are in the process of transitioning the rink from roller-skating to ice. The ice-skating season is supposed to begin on October 31st.
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