LEWISTON – Police shut down a section of Russell Street Thursday night after a strong smell of ammonia was reported near the Bates College ice rink.

While fire crews investigated the leak at Underhill Arena, police closed Russell between Central Avenue and LaFayette Street.

The detour caused traffic snarls on streets around Bates College and at the intersection of Russell and Sabattus streets at the other end.

Bates security officers reported they could smell ammonia about 6:30 p.m. Fire crews went to the area and requested that Russell Street be shut down.

Initially, police and fire crews feared dangerous levels of ammonia, which would have forced the evacuation of college buildings, homes and possibly a nearby elderly housing facility.

Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in the air can cause severe burns to the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. At high concentrations, blindness, lung damage or death can occur, officials said. Breathing lower concentrations can cause coughing and nose and throat irritation.

Firefighters who responded to Russell Street Thursday determined there was not a strong enough concentration of ammonia in the air to cause an immediate health risk. Within an hour, fire crews found the source of the leak and repaired the problem.

According to Lewiston fire Capt. Roger Beaudoin, a compressor started up at the arena Thursday and caused an ammonia release.

Russell Street was reopened to traffic at 7:45 p.m.

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