Fire at propane plant causes evacuation

Flames from the initial fire rose high into the sky during the early morning fire.

A potentially explosive fire at a Bolton propane company led to massive emergency response and evacuation last Wednesday morning.

The fire broke out at 7:17 a.m. in the main filling plant at the head office of Caledon Propane Inc., located at 1 Betomat Court, off of Humber Station Road, south of King.

One man was sent to Headwaters hospital for observation and released within an hour.

According to company president Hugh Sutherland, the fire broke out during the refilling of a local catering truck that was backed up to a filling dock. The cause is not known, but the fire engulfed the vehicle and spread to the filling dock, creating high flames.

There were small explosions as Caledon OPP officers arrived on scene and an immediate evacuation of the area was ordered. There was a fear more propane tanks would ignite and add fuel to the fire.

Approximately eight businesses in the immediate area were evacuated as well as roughly 12 residences on Humber Station Road. An evacuation site was set up at the Albion Bolton Community Centre.

Caledon OPP closed King and Humber Station Road due to a fire at Caledon Propane last Wednesday.

Caledon Propane activated its emergency response plan and all propane lines and electricity was cut immediately. Sutherland said all employees responded in accordance to the emergency plan. As a result, the fire was contained and no employees were injured.

Region of Peel Social Services department provided the arrangements and additional support staff to operate the evacuation shelter in accordance with the Caledon Community Emergency Response Plan.

Caledon fire chief Brad Bigrigg said upon arrival, firefighters found a catering truck and propane loading dock well involved in fire with multiple explosions occurring on the site.

The initial arriving crew took "strong and decisive defensive actions" to protect area residents and adjacent properties.

Due to the nature, location and fire risk posed by the stored fuel on site and the location and volume of fire, additional assistance was required to control the fire and eliminate the risk of further explosions.

Bigrigg said the debris field extended more than 100 metres around the site.

Tankers from all nine Caledon fire stations were deployed, along with one tanker from King Township. Firefighters worked for close to two hours to bring the fire under control and firefighters were on site for more than five hours. An aerial truck from Brampton was assisting on the north side of the site.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries and returned to duty.

Bigrigg said although it was not necessary for the municipality to declare an emergency, some components of the Community Emergency Response Plan were activated in the event that conditions deteriorated. The appropriate members of the Community Control Group were notified of the incident and the Shelter Plan was activated. Caledon recreation and property services staff opened the Albion Bolton Community Centre to provide emergency shelter for some area residents and occupants of adjacent businesses. Some 30 people sought shelter at the community centre for roughly five hours.

King Street was closed between Coleraine Drive and The Gore Road, and Humber Station Road was closed between Healey Road and Castlederg Sideroad.

The Office of the Fire Marshal, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority and the Ministry of Labour are investigating the origin and cause of the fire as well as the circumstances leading up to the fire.

Damage is estimated at $200,000.

Caledon Propane extended its thanks to its employees, firefighters, OPP, Fire Marshal and TSSA for their assistance.

"Caledon Propane prides itself in offering safe, reliable propane service to its clients and community," Sutherland said. "Caledon Propane is committed to and will continue to provide safety awareness about propane to our employees and customers as it relates to safely handling propane."

Caledon Propane Inc. (PNE Brand) is the largest pre-filled propane exchange supplier in Canada and is a leading marketer of propane for industrial and commercial propane across Ontario and Manitoba.