1 injured after explosion, fire at St. Catharines hazardous waste facility
Posted January 12, 2023 10:02 am.
Last Updated January 12, 2023 5:25 pm.
One person has serious injuries after an explosion and fire at a hazardous waste facility in St. Catharines, the city’s fire chief says.
St. Catharines Fire Services Chief Dave Upper said crews responded to a fire at Ssonix Products 2010 Inc. at 20 Keefer Rd. just after 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.
He said a male employee at the facility is in hospital with “significant burns.”
According to officials, there were reports of explosions continuing at the facility for about 45 minutes after fire crews arrived at the scene.
Very scary. I initially thought a tree fell on our house, the bang was so loud. I hope everyone is okay ???? pic.twitter.com/gPrbv9tfug
— Dina Mavridis (Constantia Mavridis) (@DivaMargaritas) January 12, 2023
The fire also spread to an industrial building to the east of the waste facility.
Police evacuated some homes and businesses in a neighbourhood north of the facility, while warning other residents to stay indoors, due to the “black plume” of smoke blowing toward the area.
Just after 5:00 p.m. all residents were allowed back into their homes and the shelter in place order to surrounding areas was also lifted.
“The fire area is contained […] residents and businesses will be advised when safe to return,” police tweeted.
Upper said crews are also trying to ensure run-off water from their efforts doesn’t collect in nearby Lake Ontario.
The Ministry of Environment, the Office of the Fire Marshal, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority and a hazmat remediation team have been called in.
