Explosion at propane facility rocks southern part of Barrie
Posted July 30, 2021 2:36 pm.
Last Updated July 30, 2021 8:47 pm.
An explosion at a propane storage facility in Barrie forced the evacuation of several businesses Friday afternoon as fire crews worked to contain the blaze.
An eyewitness tells 680 NEWS that just before 2 p.m. he heard a series of “loud, banging noises” coming from about a kilometre away.
Ron Johnson says he saw a lot of smoke and flames shooting up about 100 feet into the air followed by a series of explosions in the direction of Superior Propane, located in the area of Lockhard Road and Bayview Drive.
Video posted on social media shows plumes of thick black smoke rising into the air.
Big explosion and fire. South east side of Barrie. pic.twitter.com/mL6juz3X9S
— Traci Dixon (@imagenthat1) July 30, 2021
Deputy Fire Chief Ed Davis says a fire erupted on the loading dock located at the back of the building which ignited several smaller propane tanks which then exploded.
Davis says while crews were busy fighting the blaze, there was concern for several larger propane 30,000 US gallon tanks. Firefighters began pouring large volumes of water on those tanks in order to keep them cool.
“The tanks themselves were never on fire but there was slight impingement, so there is some discolouration on the tanks but there wasn’t enough heat to generate an explosion on those tanks at that time,” said Davis.
A number of businesses within a one kilometre radius of the affected area had to be evacuated as a precaution.
The fire has since been extinguished but crews remain on scene to deal with any smaller hotspots.
There are no reported injuries and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and explosion.
An explosion and fire rocked a Barrie, Ont., industrial area on July 30, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Lee Downs)
