Industrial explosion left fire crews battling blaze at crude oil tank farm northeast of Edmonton – Edmonton

An industrial explosion at a crude oil tank farm occurred Saturday afternoon at SECURE Vitality’s Elk Level facility northeast of Edmonton.

“Speaking to among the native folks, they heard the percussion. A few of them felt the percussion when it occurred,” Two Hills County Reeve Don Gulayec mentioned.

Gulayec mentioned greater than 35 firefighters from a number of departments together with RCMP and EMS initially responded.

The county additionally minimize off the pure gasoline and electrical energy to the location.

“Mainly, you’re coping with a tank farm that holds hydrocarbon materials, and they’re all on hearth. It’s large. The factor is you don’t know what the potential for an explosion or issues like which might be,” Gulayec mentioned.

Gulayec mentioned consultants in industrial explosions had been introduced in to suppress and management the fireplace. The Alberta Vitality Regulator and an company to watch the air high quality had been additionally on website. As a precaution, folks dwelling close by had been evacuated from their properties.

“There have been no fatalities. Some folks had been harm from what I collect, however the extent of their accidents is unknown presently,” Gulayec mentioned.

In a press release to World Information, Safe Vitality mentioned: “At appropriately 2:35 p.m. MST on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, a fireplace began at SECURE Vitality’s Elk Level facility. Our emergency response plan was instantly initiated, which included contacting native emergency authorities.”

“All staff are protected and accounted for. The hearth is out, and we’re working with all acceptable authorities to research the trigger. The protection of our staff, the general public and the surroundings stay our prime precedence.”

Gulayec mentioned ultimately, he’s happy with the various women and men who volunteered to assist battle this blaze.

“It was an enormous hearth for our space,” Gulayec mentioned.