Ammonia leak closes food distribution center temporarily

Norwich - A minor ammonia leak at U.S. Foodservice at 222 Otrobando Ave. was safely contained Monday morning.

Yantic Fire Chief Frank Blanchard said an ammonia alarm went off around 8 a.m.

The ammonia is used as a refrigerant to cool their freezers and coolers, he said. The leaked ammonia was recovered and put into a storage tank. Blanchard said the spill was contained to the building.

"The system worked as it should," said Blanchard.

He said it appeared a faulty gasket in a pipe in the cooler section may have caused the leak.

As a precaution, Blanchard said the building was evacuated and trucks were prevented from making deliveries. Trucks were rerouted to a nearby ball field.

Blanchard said firefighters ventilated the building and turned it over to the owner to make the necessary repairs.

No injuries were reported.