Almost ten months after a gas explosion rocked downtown Wheatley, the town is taking another step towards recovery.
Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services said on Thursday that it will be ending the “emergency phase” in Wheatley as of 7 p.m. and withdrawing its firefighters from the area. However, fire crews will return to the site at times when work is taking place to deal with any situations that may arise.
Chief Chris Case checked in as Station 20 Chief Greg Hodgson signed off Thursday evening, commending crews for their diligence and dedication over the past 294 days, the longest running incident in the history of the department.
“I am compelled to recognize and be humbled by the dedication and commitment from all the firefighters, officers, fire dispatchers and chiefs of Chatham-Kent who have answered the call to be present and ready to deal with this threat, supported by our case workers, economic development officers and a team of municipal volunteers. As the community continues to recover, they can be reassured and wholly proud of their firefighters,” Case said.
Since the first hydrogen sulphide gas release was detected in June of 2021, nearly every firefighter in Chatham-Kent has been on scene in Wheatley 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain a presence and ensure the safety of the community. The response was made even more necessary after the August 26 explosion at 15 Erie St. N, which resulted in the evacuation of 67 households and 44 businesses.
Following the capping of underground gas wells in the area and a review of the current gas detection systems in place, safety advisors have determined that the continuous presence of firefighters is no longer required.
Fire officials emphasized that the remediation work is not complete in Wheatley. Police, security, and industry hazardous materials technicians will still be present in the area to keep the scene safe and secure.
