HAZMAT situation at R.I.T. forces move of women’s hockey game

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — UPDATE: An ammonia leak at the ice arena on the Rochester Institute of Technology Campus Friday morning has been contained.

RIT shared an update Friday afternoon, saying the leak happened overnight at the Gene Polisseni Center ice arena on the south side of campus. While the area has reopened, the Center is expected to be closed for an undetermined amount of time.

The shutdown forced Saturday’s women’s hockey game scheduled Saturday against Cornell to be moved to the Blue Cross Arena at 1:30 p.m.

Crews from the Henrietta Fire District also responded.

News10NBC Photojournalist Al Fulton reported seeing dozens of crew members in the HAZMAT suits set up in the parking lot near the arena. There were also multiple Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The HFD says there is no threat to the public, or students. An RIT spokesperson told News10NBC nobody was hurt.

Henrietta Fire Dept. & Monroe County Hazmat officials are investigating an ammonia leak that occurred overnight at the Gene Polisseni Center. We are asking the RIT Community to avoid the area around the center. /1

— RIT (@RITtigers) October 15, 2021

The Henrietta Fire District along with the Monroe County HazMat team are currently working an incident on the RIT campus. Currently no threat to the public or students. Please avoid the area on the south side of campus.

— Henrietta Fire Dist (@HenriettaFire) October 15, 2021

Both the university. and crews have asked people to avoid the area while the investigation continues. The campus is shut down at Andrews Drive from Renyolds Drive to Wiltsie Drive.