posted
Zamboni explodes; fire destroys arena Larry Oakes, Star Tribune December 20, 2004 HOCKEY1220
DULUTH -- A Duluth hockey arena was destroyed and at least two people suffered minor injuries Sunday night after a Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine exploded during a broomball game, starting a major fire and sending players and spectators fleeing.
"It looked like the Zamboni doors flew off onto the ice," a player told KDLH-TV in Duluth, shortly after the explosion, which happened about 9:40 p.m. at Peterson Arena, 3501 Grand Av. in west Duluth.
The witness said the explosion started ceiling insulation on fire, and the building was quickly engulfed.
"There were people on the ice that got hit by the doors," the player told the television station. "We all just ran out of there. I think everybody got out."
A nursing supervisor at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth said this morning that one person was treated at the hospital and released.
Battling the fireAssociated PressPlayer Ryan Ringsred, who was bandaged, picked small pieces of Plexiglas from the back of his neck. He was on the ice when the explosion happened.
"I was facing the boards when they blew up," Ringsred said. "I was on the ice and the Zamboni blew up behind me. I was flat on the ice."
About 30 people -- including two broomball teams and a handful of fans -- were inside the building at the time of the explosion.
People who live near the arena reported hearing two loud booms and shortly afterward seeing flames shooting out of the building.
Police blocked off streets leading to the arena and city buses were called so evacuees could get out of the cold. Natural gas and electric service were shut off to the burning building, a move that also cut power and gas in the surrounding neighborhood.
By 10:15 p.m., the fire had engulfed the north side of the building, and police cleared out the warming house when it looked as if the fire might reach nearby power lines.
Peterson Arena is one of two city-owned arenas managed by the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association, which operates some 60 youth hockey teams for more than 800 players.
The arena was scheduled to be the site of a number of tournaments through March, according to the association's Web site.
Posts: 5484 | From: St. Paul, Mn | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Blast blamed on leaking fuel tank on Zamboni Associated Press December 21, 2004 ZAMBONI1222
DULUTH, Minn. -- City fire officials said the blast that destroyed a local ice arena and injured several broomball players and fans over the weekend was probably the result of propane leaking from a Zamboni brand ice grooming machine.
Fire Chief John Strongitharm said fuel from the Zamboni built up in the resurfacing machine's storage room. The flame of a gas-fired water heater eventually ignited the gas and it exploded, he said.
Mayor Herb Bergson said Fire Marshal Erik Simonson determined to two explosions after the first were caused by propane tanks stored in the arena.
The heat from the intense fire bent Peterson Arena's steel framework, which may mean that the building cannot be saved, Strongitharm said. City officials on Monday estimated the damage at $850,000.
After the fireBob KingAssociated Press/duluth News TribuneWalt Bruley, a longtime ice groomer who works at the Duluth Entertainment and Civic Center, said the event was a freak accident. ``Zambonis don't just blow up,'' he said. ``No one should ever fear that there will be an outbreak of exploding resurfacers.''
He said the machine that apparently exploded was a propane-fueled model that was built in the 1970s. Newer versions of the machine run on electric batteries, but many rinks haven't upgraded due to the cost.
Most of the broomball players were on the rink far away from initial explosion, Strongitharm said, and avoided serious injury.
``I would think it is very fortunate that the explosion happened when the people were away from that door and they all had the sense to drop their broomball sticks and get out,'' Strongitharm said.
The loss of one of its two indoor hockey facilities is a major blow to the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association and its 800 youth hockey players.
``We're down a facility and this is the prime time of the season,'' said DAHA Executive Director Clarke Coole. ``This is going to impact our program enormously.''
Bergson said the city staff had determined that the city's insurance would not cover the replacement cost of the arena.
``Even if you started on raising money on building in the spring, you'd be really lucky to have something ready for next season,'' he said.
Bergson said the investigation into the fire could take weeks, but city officials strongly suspect it was an accident.
``We don't expect to find that there was any foul play,'' said Bergson.
Posts: 5484 | From: St. Paul, Mn | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
