Ammonia Leak Forces Evacuation, Snarls Traffic
A Skid Row day-care center was evacuated and streets in downtown Los Angeles clogged with traffic when 30 gallons of ammonia spilled from a refrigeration tank Tuesday afternoon, city Fire Department officials said.
The leak occurred about 5 p.m. from a malfunctioning tank belonging to Youngs Market Co. in the 600 block of Gladys Avenue. Most of the liquid became gas and dissipated into the air, officials said. But a nose-wrinkling odor enveloped two Skid Row blocks, leading school officials to evacuate 25 children from the Para Los Ninos day-care center.
“The smell got so strong, just like a big laundry,” said day-care center worker Wendy Sanchez.
Fire officials said no one was injured. Police blocked off 5th and 6th streets while firefighters mopped up the spilled liquid.
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