Nearly two years after a gas explosion rocked the town of Wheatley, Chatham-Kent officials continue to look for a permanent solution at the blast site which still requires consistent monitoring.
Chatham-Kent Fire Chief Chris Case said experts continue to monitor the air site around Erie Street North for potential gases. A scrubber system designed to trap gas emissions also remains in place.
“All we can do now is keep the area stable, keep working to keep the area safe, and to be able to bring some normality back to Wheatley,” said Case. “What we’re trying to do now is find a more permanent solution so we can maintain the stability of the site. But right now I’m feeling quite confident. I’m not as worried as I was, but it’s still a concern.”
On Friday, the Ontario government announced that Chatham-Kent will receive $2.5 million to help cover costs associated with the explosion. To date, the province has invested over $25 million to support the investigation, recovery, and monitoring activities in Wheatley.
Case commended the province for its ongoing support and said he hopes it continues going forward.
“The amount of money that had to be invested to keep that area stable is significant,” he said. “It was a difficult period for a lot of people but no matter how difficult it was for us, it comes nowhere close to how difficult it’s been for the community. They really have suffered for the past two years and they’ve continued to recover.”
The explosion on August 26, 2021, which destroyed two buildings and injured 20 people, was caused by the release of methane hydrogen sulphide.
