SOUTH SALT LAKE — An ammonia leak at an ice cream warehouse caused three blocks of 300 West to be closed for much of the day Friday as firefighters and hazardous materials crews cleaned up.
The South Salt Lake Fire Department initially responded to the Farr Ice Cream warehouse, 2565 S. 300 West, at 1:40 a.m. after a motorcyclist on I-15 reported driving through a cloud of ammonia.
South Salt Lake Fire Chief Kevin Bowman said the leak apparently occurred when a fan on the warehouse's cooling system broke and punctured a condenser unit.
"It took us quite a while to get in there because the concentration was so high," Bowman said.
No one was injured, and no evacuations were required because neighboring businesses were closed and there are no homes in the area, Bowman said. But when workers began arriving at the warehouse and adjacent businesses later in the morning, most were sent home until the afternoon. After nearly 13 hours of work, 300 West was reopened to traffic about 3 p.m.
Hazardous materials crews from South Salt Lake, West Valley City and Midvale assisted the South Salt Lake Fire Department.
No estimate on damages was immediately available.