Park Evacuated, Residents Shelter In Place After Hazardous Material Leak At Bethpage Ice Rink

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - A town park was evacuated and residents in the nearby area were urged to shelter in place after a major ammonia leak inside the ice skating center on Saturday night.

Shortly after 7:00PM on Saturday, first responders were alerted to an anhydrous ammonia leak at the Bethpage Community Park's Ice Skating Center on Stewart Avenue. The park was evacuated by the Town of Oyster Bay Public Safety Department and other first responders after they arrived on scene.

Numerous Town Public Safety Officers were on scene with first responders on Saturday night.Photo byLance Lustig / PNN

At the time of the leak, there were about 75 to 100 people inside the building for a hockey game. All occupants of the ice skating center were safely evacuated.

The leak was caused by a malfunction in one of the compressors inside the facility, officials say.Photo byLance Lustig / PNN

Fire officials urged all nearby residents to shelter in place. That order has since been lifted after the leak was stopped.

While there were no reported injuries, at least 4 people who were inside the building at the time of the incident were evaluated as a precation.

First responders were seen gearing up in hazmat suits in the parking lot of the Bethpage High School on Saturday night.Photo byLance Lustig / PNN

The leak was caused by a malfunction in one of the compressors, according to officials.

“The leak had filled the entire building, so there was a gaseous cloud from the hydro ammonia leak itself. So the inside of the building was quite dangerous at one point, but it dissipated. It dissipates in fresh air,” said Nassau Fire Marshal Chief Michael Uttaro.

About 14 fire departments responded to Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, including a large amount of ambulances and multiple hazardous material response teams.

Hazardous Material response units from multiple agencies responded to the Bethpage Ice Rink on Stewart Avenue.Photo byLance Lustig / PNN

The ice rink is now closed until further notice while town officials work to repair the malfunction.

Back in 2010, another ammonia leak caused by a malfunction at the facility sent six people to the hospital and also prompted a major hazmat response at the park.