Zamboni blows up at skating rinkDenise M. Bonilla
January 1, 2006
A Zamboni machine exploded inside a Port Washington ice skating rink yesterday afternoon, blowing out the rink's windows and damaging the roof, police said. No one was injured.
The incident unfolded just before 3 p.m., when an employee at the Port Washington Skating Academy on Seaview Boulevard attempted to change the Zamboni machine's propane tank.
The employee noticed that the tank had a leak and went to notify management, said Lt. Tom Barry, of the Port Washington police.
While he was gone, the tank ignited and a small explosion occurred, Barry said.
The building was quickly evacuated before another, larger explosion blew out a majority of the windows and damaged the roof.
Four fire departments put out the blaze in under an hour, he said. Barry said the rink was open for business, but it was unclear how many people were inside before the blast.
He said the incident appears to be an accident and no charges are expected.
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