An ammonia leak at a Mount Maunganui coolstore sparked the evacuation of a dozens of businesses in the area yesterday.
The gas leak was at Real Cool Cold Storage Tauranga on the corner of Mark Rd and York St. A large number of police and fire crews remained at the scene for about four hours.
Fire Service area manager for Bay of Plenty coast Murray Binning said firefighters were called to the coolstore about 1.20pm and arrived to find a "significant" leakage of ammonia escaping both into the building and outside of it.
Firefighters created an evacuation zone which stretched about 800m downwind of the building. About eight fire trucks including the hazmat command unit were at the scene, he said.
One coolstore worker had received minor burns from the leak and was treated by St John at the scene but was doing fine, Mr Binning said.
Mr Binning said firefighters and staff at the coolstore had managed to stop the leak and were in the process of ensuring the building was safe for staff to re-enter.
Firefighters in fully encapsulated suits with breathing apparatus were measuring the gas levels and checking for residue inside the building, he said.
Ammonia gas was used as a refrigerant at the coolstore but could be deadly if inhaled.
"Ammonia gas is a very dangerous gas and it can be lethal and certainly has been lethal in the past. It's a significant hazard when there's a leak," Mr Binning said.
"That's what warranted the enormous evacuation zone.
"It's an asphyxiant in high concentrations and can lead to pretty much instant incapacitation."
The cause of the leak had not yet been established, he said.
Mark Rd based CAW Electrical Solutions owner Wayne Cromb said about 1.30pm he and his staff heard the alarm go off at the coolstore
"We initially thought they were testing the alarm system so we closed the window because it was interfering with us hearing the radio in our office," he said.
Mr Cromb said he then saw fire trucks arriving and were told they needed to evacuate because of an ammonia gas leak at the coolstore.
"We were evacuated right back to Hull Rd. I didn't actually smell anything myself, possibly because the direction the wind was blowing, but my office lady said she could smell something funny."
Mr Cromb said staff at the coolstore were also evacuated but there were no signs of panic and, while frustrating for everyone, it meant an early knock-off for him and his staff.
Port Pack and Cold Storage storeman Shanon Dickson said he and his colleagues had been unaware of the leak until the fire appliances turned up.
"Ammonia is quite pungent but we couldn't smell anything possibly because the wind was blowing in a northerly direction down towards Portside Drive," he said
Mr Dickson said he and his colleagues were able to continue working inside but had been told to close all the windows and doors and kept at least 500m away from the site.
A Mark Rd automotive business owner said it had been quite frustrating as he had three vehicles booked in for repairs yesterday afternoon which were not able to get through the cordon.
"It's a pain in the bum, but what can you do," he said
Real Cool Cold Storage manager Mark Batten declined to comment.
About ammonia:
Ammonia is a very irritant gas, and is readily water soluble, so can initially cause discomfort of the eyes, nose, and throat.
The severity of effects depends on the concentration of the gas, and the duration of exposure. High concentrations especially for extended periods can adversely affect oxygen uptake from the lungs, with secondary effects on the body, including the circulation and nervous system.
However, the most typical effects are prompt onset of eye, nose, throat and respiratory tract irritation. With mild exposures or even moderate exposures, these effects are fully reversible.
Exposure should be minimised as much and as soon as possible, moving the patient to fresh air.
If shortness of breath, or other significant symptoms are present, medical care should be sought. In some cases, the administration of oxygen may be required.