Ice Plant Ammonia Leak Keeps Hundreds Indoors
From Times Wire Reports
An ammonia leak at an ice plant forced authorities to order more than 600 residents, mostly students, to stay indoors.
Fire officials said they were fortunate that southwesterly winds and hot, rising air quickly dispersed the toxic cloud of ammonia, which is used as a coolant at Modern Ice and Cold Storage Co.
“It’s heavier than air and tends to lie low,” said fire Capt. Mark Mooney. “In larger concentrations, it is poisonous.”
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