A series of explosions ripped through the storage facility at Sunrise Propane, occurred about 3:50 am local time near Keele and Wilson avenues in North York early Sunday. One firefighter, identified as Bob Leek, a district chief of emergency planning, died on the scene of the blaze that followed the blasts, a blaze that closed major highways and forced thousands to flee their homes. At least eight people were reported to have been treated for minor injuries. Many area homes were damaged, with windows shattered and doors blown off their hinges.
Acting Police Chief, Kim Derry, said one person who was at the site at the time of the explosion remains unaccounted for. The person, who has not been identified and was described as being of East Indian origin, is believed to be an employee of Sunrise Propane. The cause of the fire was still unknown. The area was still too unstable for Ontario Fire Marshal's Office investigators to enter the site and begin their probe. Toronto police ordered the evacuation of neighbourhoods within 1.6 kilometres of Sunrise Propane. Thousands of people living between Keele Street, Dufferin Street, Sheppard Avenue and Wilson Avenue were ordered to leave their homes.
Mayor David Miller, on vacation in Vancouver, was rushing back to Toronto to help co-ordinate the relief efforts. In a teleconference call he said the city would review how residences came to be so close to a propane yard, this facility was allowed under zoning that has been there for well over a decade.
References:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aMrG50FYfjlw&refer=canada
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/10/propane-fire.html?ref=rss
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