Explosions in Toronto

[d_rawk]

Hope y'all are safe.

Propane explosions force evacuation in Toronto

By ROB GILLIES

TORONTO (AP) — Explosions at a propane facility forced thousands of people to evacuate early Sunday, and witnesses described the sky lighting up in the glow of an enormous fireball before turning black with billowing smoke.

Police said there were only minor injuries, but firefighters were battling blazes at the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases facility hours later. The series of explosions around 3:50 a.m. EDT also shut down the city's busiest highways, snarling traffic for thousands of travelers.

Some residents said the blast was so forceful they felt their homes rock as though they had been struck by an earthquake.

"It was just a tremendous explosion and blew all the windows out of the house, just blew the house up, and I just managed to get out of there in time," said Robert Helman, who was covered in cuts and bruises as he fled his home.

Residents within a one-mile radius were ordered to evacuate immediately, and police brought in buses to take residents out of the area.

About a dozen terrified residents — some clad in pajamas and housecoats — found their way on foot to nearby Yorkdale shopping mall, where security offered them water and a place to rest.

While police couldn't immediately identify how many people would be affected by the evacuation request, census data of that part of Toronto suggests that there could be as many 12,500 people and 5,300 private dwellings in the one-mile area around the explosion.

Toronto fire services division commander Bob O'Hallarn said he saw at least five heavily damaged homes and said it could he hours before residents are allowed back into the neighborhood.

The remaining burning propane tanks at Toronto plant were almost out, he said.

"There was a very large of amount of fire when we arrived," O'Hallarn said. "It could have been much more serious."

Associated Press article

[bouche]

we are. thanks for checking.

[Ol'Hickster]

Im fine and full of wine here in Mississauga!

[NewRider]

The combonation of these two products cause a massive explosion in my toilet this morning.

[Jaimoe]

A report just in that a firefighter has no vital signs at the scene. I hope he pulls through.

I fell asleep last night watching the Olympics and woke up at 3:45 with a loud boom and my apartment windows shaking. I live quite a ways from the explosion - I live in the east and it's easily a 30-40 minute drive north west. I knew something was up, but the beers took their toll and I went to bed. Shocking news.

[nattyMatty]

Fuck Now Propane is going to go up again! Why the hell would there be ppl living around somthing that could blow there houses up.. There should be a law about either building houses near propane facilities OR building propane outlets near houses. Like if ya do the math How many cubic feet will one bbq tank blow if full. Then multiply that buy how many liters are in side of a propane tanker then multiply that by the propane depot, one other factor is that to hold more pressure the walls of the container will be thicker and stronger that in turn will cause more explosion. There should be a def. rule about how close to anything these things can be. PISS ME OFF there soo lucky know one was hurt.. I see A Big Lawsuit coming on for this! ! ! ! !

[Jaimoe]

Natty, there are people hurt and one fireman may be dead as I write.

[nattyMatty]

Geez. These accidents Blow my mind. Remember when the Fual Depots in england blew about 3.5 years ago.

I hope the Fireman survives. I hope that the ppl that got hurt Sue. I hope that the City Sue's and and and ... IM Done tinkin about this.

[nattyMatty]

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/475696

All im saying is this is a Very close call.. 2 ppl gone from this place. there could have been more.. so many Lucky Lucky Ppl here.

Im telling ya! Im Pretty Pissed OFF!

[nattyMatty]

I wonder if there have been any Looters Caught. All shit like this should be in properly Zoned areas.. Not residential..

Wish i was a Lobbist! RaRR

[bouche]

compilation of a series of amateur video

The third clip is insane.

[Basher]

From what I understand, the propane facility was there long before the area was made residential. If indeed that is the case, who is to blame?

[Patchoulia]

One of my colleagues lives in the area..saw him on the news last night..understandably, he isn't in today..hope his family is OK.

[Jaimoe]

From what I understand, the propane facility was there long before the area was made residential. If indeed that is the case, who is to blame?

Not according to today's Star. The propane facility was built 3 years ago in the middle of a residential area; they often are due to demand.

[phishtaper]

terrible events. my heart goes out to the heroic firefighter and his family, and to all those affected.

[Patchoulia]

Found out my friend and his family are all safe, but still aren't allowed to go home and haven't been given any idea when they will be able to go home.

They all got out uninjured, so that's good.

[NewRider]

The place was a lumber yard or something before the propane company moved in. The residents in the neighborhod were never petitioned or advised that the place was going up three years ago.

[Kanada Kev]

A girl here at work lives close by to the event. Luckily for her, her family and home were unscathed. Now they're talking about asbestos in the air!!! FUCK!

Huge Propane Tank Explosion and Shockwave - Watch more free videos

[M]

I was leaving a party in Parkdale on Saturday and walking north to grab a cab and we saw the sky light up and could hear the exlosions go on and on... we were very confused as to what was happening. It almost seemed like fireworks from where we were (soundwise).... the initial explosion lit up the entire sky... it's crazy that from that far downtown we could see so much of it.