The Cold Lake Energy Centre has reopened this morning.
The facility was cleared by local health officials and Alberta Health Services after air quality testing conducted by Cold Lake Fire-Rescue showed the building to be free of ammonia.
An ammonia leak closed the facility on the morning of June 4.
The preliminary finding is that a contractor working on the Energy Centre expansion damaged an existing ammonia line used for cooling the arena. Energy Centre staff were quickly notified of the leak and the building was evacuated. The source of the leak has been fixed. A safety investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“Cold Lake Fire-Rescue members worked late into the evening to ensure that the proper air quality testing was done,” General Manager of Community Services, Glenn Barnes, said. “The readings they obtained show that the facility is safe for use and we have the ‘all clear’ from AHS to open the entire facility.”
The Cold Lake Portage College Campus and the Cold Lake High School have also been cleared for normal operations. Information for students can be found on the Portage College website at www.portagecollege.ca and on the Northern Lights School Division’s website at www.nlsd.ab.ca.
“We would like to thank the administration at both schools, the Energy Centre staff, Cold Lake Fire-Rescue members, Cold Lake EMS, and the general public for a prompt and efficient response to this incident,” Deputy Fire-Chief Norm Hollis said. “The cooperation we received from everybody was exemplary.”
Cold Lake Fire-Rescue and Cold Lake EMS attended the scene on the morning of Sunday, June 4. Several people were examined by EMS crews but no injuries were sustained.
The building remained closed to the public throughout June 5 as maintenance staff, in coordination with Cold Lake Fire-Rescue, worked to ventilate the building. Air quality testing was done the night of June 5.
Cold Lake Energy Centre staff have returned to work and the Energy Centre has resumed its regular operations and hours.