Holiday & Leisure Rinks, which runs Holiday Twin Rinks, says it has received all necessary approvals to re-open the Cheektowaga location on Friday.

Around 90 people were sent to hospitals because of carbon monoxide exposure at the ice rink. Many of them were children.

The company posted the following statement on its website:

"Our customers' and employees' safety and well-being are paramount. That has always been the case and will continue to be the case in the future. We have worked diligently and closely with several parties (contractors, inspectors, town officials, etc) to eliminate all issues successfully.

"As you may be aware, Carbon Monoxide issues are not unheard of within ice rink facilities, and even though this is our 1st accident in five decades of continuous operations, this single incident is still one too many. To that end, we have reviewed all systems within both Holiday & Leisure Rinks, and over the last several days, we have completed the following updates and additions. Many of which go well beyond what was required by officials."

Fatal levels of carbon monoxide range from 150 to 200 ppm. Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Brian Nowak said levels reached or exceeded 300 ppm at the rink the night people became ill.

National Fuel determined the cause was a faulty heat exchanger, which led to a buildup of CO over several days.

The company provided a list of the updates that have been made to the facility.

Required before reopening:

  • Replaced the defective Lobby Unit Heater
  • Replaced the 4 rooftop exhaust fans

Additional (non-required) items that have been replaced as of Friday:

  • New furnace for Regals office & locker rooms 9 & 10
  • New furnace for locker rooms 1 thru 4
  • New furnace for locker rooms 5 thru 8
  • New furnace for Rink 2 balcony area
  • Brand new CO detectors throughout the building (Including all locker rooms)

Other planned updates as soon as supplies arrive:

  • New bleacher heaters
  • New hot water tanks for locker room 11