Airdrie RCMP have confirmed that an ammonia leak did occur at Genesis Place earlier today (February 3). 

Constable Dan Martin says an alarm sounded just after 7:00 am.  "A city worker quickly evacuated both arenas.  First responders including the Airdrie Fire Department, EMS, Municipal Enforcement and RCMP arrived on scene.  The fire department was able to contain the ammonia leak to one room within  Genesis Place and technicians were able to quickly fix the problem and the ammonia was cleared, obviously, out of the building and they were able to resume activities quite quickly."

Martin says they wanted to clarify some erroneous information that said the alarm that went off was a false alarm.

Martin says ammonia leaks are taken very seriously.  An ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena in October, 2017 killed three people. He believes the city will be investigating to determine what caused the leak but says he obviously can't comment on their behalf.

Coincidentally, Martin was in one of the Twin Arenas, running a Novice hockey practice at the time the alarm went off.  He says there was no panic whatsoever.

"Ammonia has a very pungent odour and you can smell it very easily.  There was no smell of ammonia in the arenas area.  The City of Airdrie arena attendant obviously noticed the alarm and yelled at everybody on both ice surfaces to get off the ice.  He also emptied the dressing rooms and got all the spectators out and moved everybody to the front lobby area of the arena.  First responders were quickly on scene and the entire area was evacuated quite quickly."

Martin estimate there were just under 100 people in the arenas at the time the alarm sounded.

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