An apparent ammonia leak at an arena in Fernie has killed three workers who were repairing the refrigeration plant at the municipal ice rink.
Police, fire, paramedics and WorkSafe BC investigators were on scene at the Fernie Memorial Arena after the leak was reported shortly before noon on Tuesday.
In an email, Trish Knight Chernecki from WorkSafe BC called the incident "a tragic loss of life."
WorkSafe BC's preliminary information suggested three workers were exposed to a gas leak. The agency was contacted by the Fernie Fire Department at 12:30 p.m and there are now three WorkSafe BC officers on site.
More officers will be at the scene on Wednesday, once Fernie RCMP have completed their investigation.
Homes and businesses nearby were evacuated after the leak was reported, between 9th and 13th streets and Highway 3 and 6th Avenue.
The arena is at the corner of 6th Avenue and 11th Street.
Highway 3, which runs behind the arena, remained open to traffic, but several streets were closed: 9th Street and 11th Street from the highway to 6th Avenue and 6th Avenue from 9th to 11th Streets.
Tuesday morning, the city announced that the arena was closed so that emergency repairs could be made to the refrigeration plant. Ammonia is used as a refrigerant for ice arenas and other large refrigeration systems.
Craig Mohr, coach and general manager of the Fernie Ghostriders junior hockey team, said the team was told early Tuesday that the arena was closed.
As far as he knows it was an unexpected closure.
Barb Anderson, president of the Ghostriders said no one from the team was affected by the leak.
"The arena is city owned and operated. We are one of the user groups," she said.
