FEBRUARY 27, 2015
ECHO BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA
Town officials are still waiting to hear if this morning's
explosion has caused structural damage to the building that houses the Echo Bay
Sportsplex's ice surface.
The blast, which caused extensive damage to an older canteen
section of the structure which houses the rink's Zamboni, also caused visible
damage to the north wall of the 100- by 200-foot Butler building, but Lynne
Duguay, clerk administrator, said the town hopes it isn't structural.
An official from the Office of the Fire Marshal is expected
to arrive this afternoon and will be met by a structural engineer, Duguay said.
Even if the main building is declared sound the explosion is
expected to mean the end to what has been a great season for the natural ice
surface, said Duguay.
Cold weather has meant good quality ice and use at the
facility has been up, both with rentals and open skates, she said.
"It has been a good year for the ice," Duguay
said.
8:13 a.m. update:
Ontario Provincial Police have issued a news release
regarding this morning's explosion. It follows our earlier coverage below.
Earlier story (7:45 a.m.):
An early-morning explosion rattled neighbours and caused
extensive damage to the Echo Bay Sportsplex.
Lynne Duguay, clerk administrator for the Township of
MacDonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional Township just east of Sault Ste.
Marie, said the blast occurred between 4-4:30 a.m.
The east side of the facility’s Zamboni room is “completely
gone.”
“There is a lot of damage,” said Duguay.
She said the building was empty at the time and no one was
injured, though the explosion was felt by nearby residents.
“I know a lot of houses in the area really felt the
explosion,” said Duguay.
She said the last rental at the facility was at 10 p.m. last
night.
Duguay said Echo Bay firefighters were on the scene within
minutes and power and gas company representatives were able to quickly cut
electricity and gas to the building.
Duguay said a gas leak is suspected as the cause, but that
has not been determined.
The Office of the Fire Marshal has been contacted, she said.
An OPP news release follows:
*************************
Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional Township
– At 5 a.m. on February 27, 2015, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial
Police (OPP) were dispatched to an explosion at the Echo Bay sports complex
located at 83 Bay Street in Echo Bay, Ontario.
The Echo Bay fire department and Union Gas are also
presently on scene.
The building sustained major damage.
No injuries are reported.
The Office of the Fire Marshall will be attending the scene.
The cause of the explosion is not known at this time.
The investigation is continuing.
Source:www.sootoday.com