Photo: Michel Varin / CTV News
UPDATE 7:35 p.m
Quebec provincial police say at least three employees are missing after an explosion at a propane facility Thursday in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., north of Montreal.
Sergeant Eloise Cosset told an evening news conference that three Propane Lafortune employees had not been seen since the explosion, describing them as “three potential victims.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of these people who we are currently in contact with,” she told reporters, adding that police had opened an investigation and were dealing with a large scene that would take several days to examine.
She gave no other details about the three missing, other than they are employees and the search for them is ongoing. Police do not rule out the possibility that other people were at the scene when the explosion occurred.
The fire was finally contained Thursday night at the well-known business in the community.
Fire Chief Francois Tiviers said earlier that authorities were called to an explosion at 11:17 a.m. and the first crews to arrive tried to respond but had to withdraw due to the risk of more explosions from propane tanks on site .
Thivierge said first responders were mindful of safety concerns and the environmental risk of oil or gas ending up in the nearby Achigan River.
The situation was also initially too dangerous for paramedics, said Eric Lauzon, operations director of the Lanaudiére-Laurentides ambulance service. Ambulances were on the scene, he said in an interview, but were unable to get near the scene because of the risk of an explosion.
Thivierge said officers used a drone to assess the risk and were able to continue their operation once they deemed it safe. About 50 firefighters are on the scene and are expected to stay overnight, he added. Crews from the neighboring municipalities of Rawdon, Ste-Julienne, St-Lin-Laurentides and Repentigny were called to help fight the fire.
Authorities set up a one-kilometer evacuation zone around the site, but by 6:30 p.m., about 50 people forced from their homes had managed to return.
Stephanie Therrien, deputy general manager of the Montcalm regional municipality, said earlier that three or four employees were missing. “Unfortunately, there are officers who are still missing,” she said in an interview. Therrien said it was unlikely that anyone had escaped the fierce fire that followed the explosion.
“There may have been witnesses who tried to get inside to help, but because the roof was collapsing, they had to get out as quickly as possible,” Therrien said.
Karin Lamarche, who lives near the site, said an explosion rocked her home late Thursday morning.
“It was shaking, I thought something had fallen on the house,” she said. It wasn’t until later, while driving to pick up her mail, that she turned the corner to Propane Lafortune and saw the consequences.
“I saw a great smoke in the sky, much fire coming from the earth and rising into the air. There was a lot of black smoke,” she said. Later, when she returned home, a security perimeter was erected and some nearby homes were evacuated.
“We know a little bit of the people who work there, we’ve heard like everyone else that people are missing,” Lamarche added. “It’s a shame, it’s sad. It touches me because it’s a company that’s right next door.”
The mayor of St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Sébastien Marcille, held back tears as he spoke to reporters.
“That’s the uncertainty,” Marcil said. “There are three people who are missing, three of our citizens, we are looking for them and waiting for answers.
In an emailed statement, the Lafortune family said they offered their full cooperation to authorities and quickly called emergency services after the explosion and fire.
“We are deeply saddened by this event and are monitoring the situation closely,” the statement said.
“This is the first time in 60 years that our company has experienced such an ordeal. Our hearts go out to our employees, their families and anyone who may be affected by this difficult situation.”
Cossette said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the explosion. Residents who were displaced or traumatized by the blast were able to seek shelter and mental health services in the basement of the St-Roch-de-l’Achigan church.
Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel said on Twitter that his department is monitoring the situation and his thoughts are with the workers.
UPDATE 1:05 p.m
Quebec police say at least one worker is missing after an explosion at a propane facility in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., north of Montreal.
Municipal officials previously said three or four officers were missing, but provincial police Sgt. Eloise Cosset told a press conference this afternoon that “at least one person” was missing and there could be more.
ORIGINAL 12:10 p.m
Municipal officials said at least four workers were unaccounted for after an explosion Thursday at a propane facility in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que., north of Montreal.
Stephanie Therrien, deputy general manager of the Montcalm regional municipality, said a search was underway because three or four employees were missing.
“Unfortunately, there are officers who are still missing,” Therrien said in an interview.
The explosion occurred around 11:17 a.m. at Propane Lafortune, a well-known business in the community. Therrien said it was unlikely that people were able to escape the fierce fire that followed the explosion.
“There may have been witnesses who tried to get inside to help, but because the roof was collapsing, they had to get out as quickly as possible,” Therrien said.
Karin Lamarche, who lives near the site, said an explosion rocked her home late Thursday morning.
“It was shaking, I thought something had fallen on the house,” she said. It wasn’t until later, when she got in her car to get her mail, that she turned the corner to Propane Lafortune and saw the consequences.
“I saw a great smoke in the sky, much fire coming from the earth and rising into the air. There was a lot of black smoke,” she said.
Later, when she returned home, a security perimeter was erected and some neighboring homes were evacuated.
Therrien said authorities had established a one-kilometre evacuation zone around the site, and Quebec provincial police said evacuations were underway in the city, about 50 kilometers north of Montreal. The district municipality said on Facebook that more explosions are possible due to the propane tanks on site and warned people to stay away.
Support is provided in the basement of the St-Roch-de-l’Achigan church, where citizens can seek shelter or mental health services.
Firefighters from the neighboring municipalities of Rawdon, Ste-Julienne, St-Lin-Laurentides and Repentigny were called to help fight the blaze.
Eric Lauzon, operations director of the Lanaudiére-Laurentides ambulance service, said ambulances were on the scene but were unable to approach the scene due to the danger.
Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel said on Twitter that his department is monitoring the situation and his thoughts are with the workers.
Add Comment