Ammonia Leak Forces Evacuation Of Dairy

Liquid ammonia leaking from a broken pipe on Saturday morning forced the evacuation of a north Spokane dairy plant.

The pipe, which carries ammonia to ice cream freezers at Darigold Inc., 33 E. Francis, broke about 11:30 a.m.

Members of Spokane Fire Department’s hazardous materials team warmed the freezer to room temperature, turning the liquid ammonia into a gas. They then used large fans to blow the ammonia from the freezer, fire officials said.

The freezer, which is usually kept at about 20 degrees below zero, took nearly eight hours to ventilate. All of the ice cream was destroyed.

No one was injured.

Food inspectors were called to check ice cream in other freezers to determine if it was contaminated, fire officials said.

, DataTimes